"Science and Policy in Natural Resource Management : understanding system complexity” by Dr Helen Allison and Prof Richard Hobbs

Imaginative solutions and major changes in education are needed to deal with significant water shortages and nation-wide agricultural losses, Murdoch University researchers say.

Environmental scientists Dr Helen Allison and Professor Richard Hobbs have published a book exploring new ways of sustaining natural resources and analysing the agricultural region in Western Australia.

The innovative book examines the Wheatbelt history over the past 100 years and addresses the causes of resource degradation, social decline and environmental pollution.

It provides a clear understanding of the relationship between science and policy and offers imaginative suggestions in sustainable resource management such as major changes in education and advances in interactive modelling methods and practices.

“Despite many well intentioned policies and changes to our management practices our natural resources continue to decline,” Dr Allison said.

“In order to prevent this from happening we need to understand the complex interactions between a range of factors such as economical, social and ecological.

“We need to create resilient regions which can absorb disturbances, such as climate change and bounce back to maintain productivity for the long term.”

The book was launched on November 9, and is available from the Cambridge University Press website www.cambridge.org.