FATE at a glance
Through the FATE program, biodiverse landscapes will increase in commercial value. This will lead to their conservation by land-holders.
FATE is...
The FATE Program is an action research program that aims to investigate how commercial use of native species in Australia's threatened ecosystems could enhance the long-term conservation of Australian biodiversity and through this process to increase the resilience and economic viability of rural and regional Australia. It seeks to encourage the development alternative systems involving commercial activities by rural communities that involve the sustainable use of native plants and animals and to monitor the ecological, economic and social consequences of these activities.
FATE involves
- establishing demonstration sites on which we can develop agricultural systems that integrate wildlife (especially kangaroo) management, native forestry, native food enterprises and tourism with existing enterprises.
- partnerships with Indigenous groups in learning how to sustainably manage rangeland environments, from which rural communities (including Indigenous communities) will benefit.
- working with participating farmers and their communities to identify potential enterprises based on native species.
- devising a marketing and enterprise plan for selected enterprises and working with existing industry groups.
- the adaptive management of these enterprises by participating farmers for a period of five to eight years.
- monitoring the economic, social and environmental effects of the new enterprises.
- implementing a multi-faceted communication strategy.
FATE and landholders
- We aim to have the active participation of landholders at all stages of the FATE program to find ways to make conservation pay through the commercial use of biodiverse natural areas on their properties.
- Land-holders are already very aware of the need to be sustainable, but recognise that they can only be ecologically sustainable if they are economically sustainable.
- FATE enterprises should add additional revenue streams to land-holders at the same time as conserving biodiversity.
- We are looking for landholders and communities that are interested in becoming FATE demonstration sites.
FATE and rural communities
- We are aiming to work with existing rural communities and community groups, especially Indigenous groups.
- We are interested in helping rural communities to plan and develop the infrastructure and marketing plans to make local industries based on native plants and animals work for the benefit of the whole community.
FATE, conservation and catchment management
- One of the main reasons for FATE is to assist in conservation of habitat and species on private land through maintaining and extended areas of remnant native vegetation.
- We have been working closely with Government agencies to further the move toward conserving and increasing biodiversity on private land.
- FATE is one of a number of market-based initiatives for funding conservation.
- We are working with Catchment Management Authorities, particularly in NSW, including Western CMA, Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA and Central West CMA.
- FATE is also exploring cross-property initiatives for delivering landscape-scale change in line with catchment priorities.
FATE at the University of NSW
FATE started as an Australian Museum initiative and has since moved to UNSW, where it is based in the Faculty of Science. The FATE team forms part of a group of broad, cross-faculty and trans-disciplinary environmental initiatives at UNSW and works closely with other units such as the Institute of Environmental Studies, the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and UNSW properties at Wellington and Fowlers Gap, both in Western NSW.
FATE and large kangaroos
Kangaroo harvesting is likely in each FATE area because:
- kangaroo numbers remain high in the rangelands
- an existing industry is in place
- there is potential for both domestic and export market expansion
- there is strong opinion that harvesting kangaroos will contribute to conservation in the rangelands, but this has not been tested
- there is a growing body of research about the effects of harvesting kangaroos
- there is potential for land-holders to manage kangaroo populations to expedite harvest and provide an economic return.
For more details on FATE's projects and publications relating to kangaroos, see the FATE and kangaroos page.
FATE enterprises and market development
There are already many enterprises that are compatible with FATE. These include industries based on kangaroos, emus, edible plant products, wildflowers and native timber, pharmaceutical products derived from native species, and eco-tourism.
We recognise that there can be no commercial use without markets for products and services from these enterprises. As a result we are working hard with our partners to support the existing industries and to stimulate new approaches.
Our most recent marketing work has been for the Choosing Kangaroo project, which is currently being finalised. A Final Report should be available soon, but in the meantime, have a look at our key findings.
Last Updated 17 September 2007
