The Science of Desert Living consolidates our understandings
of desert drivers and their impacts to provide an integrated,
inter-sectoral discipline and is at the forefront of understanding
regions as systems. The Science of Desert Living project will help to develop a
solid underlying theoretical basis for developing solutions to
applied desert living problems more rapidly and confidently.
Closely aligned projects are identifying and linking the key social
and economic issues affecting the viability of desert regions and
exploring the role that property rights play in the use of desert
landscapes by a range of different groups and how the associated
benefits are distributed.
Collaborations with the Tangentyere Council are helping to
inform decision makers about regional mobility and its impacts,
which are helping us improve our representations of the function of
desert regions. We also have a greater understanding of future
demographic changes to the desert through studies into regional
demography which will inform future work.
We have let scoping studies on road stabilisation, procurement
and public transport which will improve our systems understanding
of desert regions, but will also enable the development of
resources to inform decision making about regional futures by the
end of the decade. These studies review current practice and will
recommend how the desert as a region can be more responsive.
A series of theme project reports will also help us achieve our
milestones and enhance our understanding of the desert system.
Significant research work has gone into refining regional
development strategies, using a systems approach, understanding
what is different and important about the communities, economies
and resources of desert Australia and identifying and linking key
social and economic issues affecting the sustainability of desert
regions. This work provides baseline regional data that will inform
systems representations of the critical nature and function of
outback regions by June 2008. Research projects examining the use
of systems approaches to define regional tourism futures and
mapping socio-regions of desert Australia are also being
finalised.
