Remote Sensing and Range Monitoring and Assessment: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Grazing Gradient Approach

The CSIRO Centre for Arid Zone Research has so far produced two operational computer-based programmes for range condition monitoring and assessment. These programmes are based on the so-called “grazing gradient” approach, which utilises remotely-sensed satellite data. The Wet Period Average Cover approach has been designed to aid the monitoring of range condition at a regional level. Even accounting for research and development costs, notional application of this approach to the Barkly Region alone yielded—over a 20-year period—benefits to government with a net present value in the order of $130,000, a benefit/cost ratio of around 1.2 and an internal rate of return of 2.7 per cent. This suggests that there are potentially very substantial benefits to the more general adoption of this technology by agencies charged with responsibility for range monitoring and management. Resilience Analysis is a property-level application of the grazing gradient method designed to aid in forage management through ecologica...