A perspective on farm businesses and natural resources policy

Access my PhD here. I examined how native grassland and native pasture was managed within farm businesses across south-eastern Australia, and to draw lessons for government policy. Chapters cover: the policy problem; methods; eight case studies; policy implications of the case study findings. (2001, online)

Long-term involvement in biodiversity maintenance

My aim in this paper is to outline mechanisms that might be used by conservation agencies to secure biodiversity assets on agricultural land in the face of possible land use changes over the long term. (2003, 14 pages).

Natural resources policy and the behaviour of firms

In this paper, it is argued that the likely effectiveness of public policy directed at modifying firm behaviour will be influenced by the detail of the characteristics of the operating environment of the firm - including practices internal to the firm as well as its relationship with the external world. (2012, 22 pages)

Duty of Care - Increasing effectiveness of catchment management

This paper explores the potential of a duty of care in improving land management. A duty of care by employers is legislated in occupational health and safety. (co-authored, published 2003, 28 pages).

'The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act: Pioneering Conservation Legislation in Australia

Victoria led the way with biodiversity conservation when this Act was passed in 1988. The Act promised so much, but it’s implementation was watered down over time. I was appointed to help ecologists address social and economic dimensions of conservation - a fantastic period of my life. (Co-authored, 1992, 17 pages. Footnotes need to be formatted)

Contributed paper to the Second Meeting of The International Society for Ecological Economics Investing in Natural Capital. A prerequisite for sustainability. Stockholm. August 3-6, 1992.

Conservation Management Networks Strategic Plan

Many CMNs are still operate across Victoria. They are open to all land managers, public or private, who are responsible for the biodiversity within their area. This plan by Context P/L was commissioned to capture the lessons of Conservation Management Networks, and to serve as a guide for community groups wishing to develop one. At the time, I was responsible for their statewide coordination. (Author is Context P/L, 2008, 50 pages).

Reimbursing the future: An evaluation of mechanisms for the conservation of biodiversity

In my view, this team report remains very useful. It evaluates a range of mechanisms - motivational, price based, property right and regulatory. (Online. 1996). Text is available for each chapter at: https://www.environment.gov.au/archive/biodiversity/publications/series/paper9/execsum.html (accessed June 2020)

I was not an author, but represented Victoria on the steering committee. Citation: Young, Michael D.; Howard, Bruce; Gunningham, Neil; Grabosky, P.; McCrone, E.; Elix, J.; Lambert, J. 1996. Reimbursing the Future: An Evaluation of Motivational, Voluntary, Price-based, Property-right and Regulatory Incentives for the Conservation of Biodiversity.. In: Canberra: Dept of Environment, Sport and Territories.