Box 3.3
How the ecosystem approach can advise the
environmental manager – three selected
situations
Range management
● what type of stock;
● stocking rate;
● the state of the range;
● how to manage grazing rotation;
● whether to augment with seeding or fertiliser;
● potential threats;
● parallel usage opportunities (e.g. recreation, conservation, forestry).
Forest management
● whether the forest trees are healthy and regenerating;
● whether the mix of species is steady or in decline;
● whether there are threats;
● what harvesting is possible and how;
● parallel usage opportunities (e.g. forest products, conservation, tourism);
whether forest can be established/re-established in currently unforested
areas.
Conservation management
● whether conservation is viable in the long term;
● what mix and number of species can be carried;
● whether a cull or improvement in breeding is needed;
● whether there are threats;
● what parallel uses are possible (e.g. ecotourism);
● whether there are alternative ecosystems to provide back-up.