The Sugar Industry's Impact on the Landscape of the Australian Wet Tropical Coast

The cultivation of sugarcane transformed the landscape and ecology of the Wet Tropics region of Australia over the last 140 years. In parallel, government policies shaped the unique structure and culture of the sugar industry throughout Queensland, directly and indirectly affecting sugarcane cultiva...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Landscape research 2010-12, Vol.35 (6), p.613-632
Main Authors: Benn, Karen E., Elder, Janice, Jakku, Emma, Thorburn, Peter J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Australia
Bgi / Prodig
ecological modernization theory
government policy
Great Barrier Reef
Human geography
landscape impact
Marine
Oceania
Sugar industry
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The cultivation of sugarcane transformed the landscape and ecology of the Wet Tropics region of Australia over the last 140 years. In parallel, government policies shaped the unique structure and culture of the sugar industry throughout Queensland, directly and indirectly affecting sugarcane cultivation practices. Despite government environmental policies and strategies, the nutrient run-off from sugarcane cultivation continues to impact on the coastal landscape and health of the Great Barrier Reef. Sugarcane growers in the area and stakeholders from within and outside the industry were interviewed to determine why growers adopt many of the recommended practices that increase productivity, but not environmental practices such as reduced fertilizer application rates. This paper identifies how sugarcane growers are distinct from other farmers in Australia and suggests reasons why government environmental policy has failed. We conclude that a new policy approach based on Ecological Modernization Theory is recommended to achieve desired ecological outcomes and, at the same time, maintain productivity levels.
ISSN:0142-6397
1469-9710
1469-9710
DOI:10.1080/01426397.2010.519435