Potential implications of plausible future changes for the way landscapes are used, and the lifestyles and livelihoods of people in those landscapes will be explored in this theme.

Theme objectives

• Assess social, cultural, economic and institutional values and aspirations in relation to current practices and future plans for NRM
• Investigate what conditions will enable effective arrangements for NRM in Indigenous areas of Australia
• Identify the factors that could influence how rural and peri-urban lands are used in the future and the impact of different scenarios for NRM

Focus topics

R&D under this theme will focus on two sub-themes:

• effective NRM in Northern Australia
• peri-urban development.

The knowledge to inform future regional planning and NRM in Northern Australia is limited, fragmented and insufficient for addressing the management demands of the future.

There is a lack of relevant data on drivers of change in land use outside urban centres in several areas of Australia. We will explore the implications of future changes for the way landscapes are used, and the lifestyles and livelihoods of people in those landscapes.

More information on this theme

A discussion of the rationale for work under this theme, and of the broad research outcomes we are seeking, is available in Making the connections, the Social and Institutional Research and Development Investment Plan 2005-10, pages 12-13.

Projects and findings

You can explore a list of projects related to this theme and read about their findings to date.