Working effectively with farmers on agri-environment investment

Abstract

Agricultural communities are now more diverse than ever, therefore incentive schemes must be flexible, and developed, at least in part, in consultation with the intended audience. Less than perfect ecological outcomes may be better than no outcomes at all. Voluntary schemes, whether subsidised or incentivised, deliver cost-effective outcomes, but must have ownership by landholders. Our largest scheme for private land revegetation was collaboratively developed with landholders and has uptake across the country. Environmental change takes time and requires an ongoing commitment to the site and the landholder to guarantee a return on the initial investment. As a project manager with