Conservation and the Environment
Book Details

Old Land, New Landscapes

A Story of Farmers, Conservation and the Landcare Movement

Chris Williams

The story of a farming community fighting to rehabilitate land degraded by more than a century of farming.

Opinion

‘Occasionally a book comes along that has the potential to change the way people think. Chris Williams’ recently published story of farmers, conservation and the Landcare movement should be essential reading for those involved in natural resource management.’ Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management

“Old Land, New Landscapes provides new and evocative insights into the relationship between Australian farmers and their environment and celebrates the persistance of people who remain living in rural and remote landscapes.”
(The Country Woman, October 2004)

About this Title

‘From the highway, I could see large areas of bushland draped over the ridges and low hills rising above the plains -- grey-green ramparts shadowing the monoculture crops below. It didn’t seem at all impossible to imagine more Landcare groups discovering the value of these areas, planning their ecological reintegration with stock routes or roads, and dreaming of returning locally extinct species to them.’

Old Land, New Landscapes is the story of a farming community fighting to rehabilitate land degraded by more than a century of farming. Chris Williams tells of the trials and triumphs of the Sutherland family and other volunteers based around Peak Hill in central western New South Wales, as they set out to restore native vegetation and create the Genaren Hill wildlife sanctuary. This authoritative and engaging book is essential reading for farmers and Landcare scheme participants, but will also appeal to those who enjoy reading about the Australian bush and the resourceful characters who live there.

About the Author

Chris Williams gained his PhD from the University of Melbourne for an investigation of nature conservation practice in rural communities, using ideas and insights from landscape ecology and anthropology. He now works as Conservation Manager for Trust for Nature in Victoria. His interest in land and landscape was sparked by family involvement in farming and conservation. His mother's extended family farmed in South Gippsland and the Mallee, while his father, a university manager, helped set up the Centre for Environmental Studies at the University of Melbourne.

Book Preview

978-0-522-85108-3