Developing environmental service policy for salinity and water

This study examines ways in which land use changes, such as large-scale afforestation in the upper parts of catchments affects water and salt flows to lower parts. The project quantifies trade-offs among upstream and downstream interests in terms of impacts on the environment, social equity and economic efficiency, with and without and with regulation and policy intervention. The project uses two catchments to provide quantitative examples (the Bet Bet Catchment, Victoria, and the Macquarie Catchment, NSW). Land owners, catchment management authorities and other agencies with responsibilities in these areas may benefit from this research first. Beyond these geographic areas, others facing similar challenges as land owners, authorities, agencies and policy makers may benefit from the ideas, methods and examples presented here. Awareness of the upstream/downstream relationships and their potential importance in various settings will help producers and policy makers judge the need for prevention of losses of vital river flows in Australia.