SALINITY is recognised as one of Australia’s most pressing environmental problems. This is nowhere more evident than in Western Australia, where large tracts of agricultural land, rural roads and buildings and many species of flora and fauna are under threat from salinisation.

A one-day symposium recently held at Murdoch brought together an array of experts from universities, state agencies and the CSIRO to discuss the various approaches to salinity.

There has recently been increased recognition of the problem with new initiatives from both Federal and State governments, and significant inputs of money into programs to deal with salinity.

But how well is this money being spent and how confident are we that the actions being taken will help alleviate the problem? The symposium, which was an unqualified success and attracted more than 250 people, looked at the science behind the actions recommended in current policies.

Symposium convenor Professor Richard Hobbs of the School of Environmental Science at Murdoch University said scientists were becoming increasingly aware that salinity was not amenable to quick and easy solutions.

“As more information is gathered and more understanding achieved, it is becoming clear that, even if recommended actions are taken, significant areas of land will still become saline,” said Professor Hobbs.

“From earlier hopes that well-targeted, relatively small-scale efforts might be successful, scientists are now suggesting that major changes in farming practices, large-scale revegetation programs or drainage schemes are likely to be needed.”

A key weapon in the battle against salinity is the replacement of perennial plants which utilise more water.

“Increasingly, scientists are also suggesting we will have to learn to live with salinity and, rather than spending huge sums trying to prevent it, instead try to develop methods of adapting to it; for example by growing salt-tolerant plants, using accumulated salt water for fish culture.

“Western Australia is ahead of the rest of the country, both in the onset of the problem and also in our thinking on how to tackle it.

“Although scientists are recognising that the problem is more difficult than we thought, this needn’t be a cause for despair - rather it should herald a new way of approaching the problem. We need to ensure that we’re tackling it in the best way possible based on what we know.”