The Private and Social Values of Wetlands an Overview

The focus of the project was on the management of wetlands located on private property. Wetlands are increasingly recognised as being of value to society yet the history of their use in Australia has been one of widespread degradation due to grazing, cropping, clearing and draining for commercial gain. What remains of Australia’s wetlands are predominantly located on private land. The danger this situation presents arises from an imbalance between the incentives wetland owners receive for exploiting and protecting their wetlands. Wetland owners receive strong profit signals to exploit their wetlands but little if any financial reward has been available from wetland conservation activities.