An Investigation into the Net Benefits of Revegetating Agricultural Land with Indigenous Species in the Dryland Section of the Goulburn-Broken Catchment Area

Benefits ascribed to the revegetation of farming landscapes include enhancement ofbiodiversity, reduction in the advance of dryland salinity, sequestration of greenhousegases, control of soil erosion, greater protection of agricultural activities from adverseweather conditions and an improved aesthetic value of rural lands. In this paper,economic analyses were performed to determine the net benefits to landholders ofcarrying out revegetation. Where the net benefits were insufficient to allow reasonablereturns to be earned on the investment of marginal capital, an assessment was made ofthe amount and type of assistance that would be necessary to encourage landholdersto adopt this improved system of land management.