Lake Eyre Basin Rivers: Environmental, Social and Economic Importance

Water is scarce in the Lake Eyre Basin in the heart of Australia. The region goes through natural cycles ofboom and bust, and the flooding of the basin rivers is accompanied by spectacular responses from wildlifeand vegetation. However, the Lake Eyre Basin faces the threat of large-scale diversion of water from therivers and wetlands for use in irrigation and mining. Around the world, such water resource developmentshave caused widespread degradation of rivers and loss of habitats. Lake Eyre Basin Rivers outlines the environmental, social and economic values of the rivers from a diverserange of perspectives, including science, tourism, economy, engineering, policy, Traditional Owners andpastoralists. It describes the current state of the environment, the past and ongoing threats to the riversystems, drawing on stories from the Murray-Darling Basin, and provides direction for ensuring that therivers remain free-flowing to service the environment and future generations. This book is a valuable reference for environment and government agencies, industries and policy-makersconcerned with the region and will be of interest to the communities of the Lake Eyre Basin. FEATURES: Examines the use and conservation of the Lake Eyre Basin rivers from a range of stakeholder perspectives Explores all dimensions of sustainability and provides a thorough analysis of the long-term threats to the rivers Outlines solutions for the future sustainability of the Lake Eyre Basin rivers, including the policy and legislative background