The Environment Institute
Where ideas grow
Professor Randy Stringer
Agrarian Landscapes, the Environment and World Heritage:
Why our region should apply for World Heritage Status

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UNESCO Treaty
The World Heritage List: 890 properties
the most outstanding examples of the world’s natural
and cultural heritage
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Ten criteria, need to meet one
Australian WHS
Kakadu National Park Great Barrier Reef
Willandra Lakes Region Tasmanian Wilderness
Lord Howe Island Gondwana Rainforests
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Shark Bay
Wet Tropics Queensland Macquarie Island
Heard and McDonald Islands Fraser Island
Australian Fossil Mammal Sites Greater Blue Mountains
Purnululu National Park
Royal Exhibition Building
Sydney Opera House
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Benefits of WHS
• Protects endangered and unique sites
• A catalyst for new business opportunities
• Attracts investment, grants, funding
• New and appropriate infrastructure
• High quality architecture & landscape design
• Improves coordination for more sustainable transport
policies
• Integrated planning & conservation policies
• Branding opportunities for communities and local products
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Lavaux Vineyard Terraces
Rice Terraces of the
Philippine Cordillera
Source: Wiki commons
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Alto Douro, Portugal Life Impact The University of Adelaide

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Viñales Valley, Cuba
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Source: web Gallery of Art
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Source:web Gallery of Art Life Impact The University of Adelaide

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Can we do it?
Are we a rare agrarian landscape?
Are we endangered?
Heyson Trail, Mawson Trail, Yurebilla Trail, Torrens
Linear Park, Wine trails, etc.
Are we ‘tangibly associated with events or ideas of
outstanding universal significance?’
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John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), the most influential One of our tangibly associated
English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth ideas of significance
century.
His views are of continuing significance, and are
generally recognized to be among the deepest and
certainly the most effective defenses of
empiricism.
The overall aim of his philosophy is to develop a
positive view of the universe and the place of
humans in it, one which contributes to the progress
of human knowledge, individual freedom and
human well-being.
Stanford university Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
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John Stuart Mill
…the planning of colonies should be conducted,
not with an exclusive view to the private interests
of the first founders, but with a deliberate
regard to the permanent welfare of the
nation afterwards…
…no plan is comparable in advantage to that
advocated by Mr Wakefield….
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Direct Indirect
Private Food Production Food, wine and tourism
Income generation Safe food
Grapes and Wine Health, nutrition, prosperity
Wages and businesses Business opportunities
Public
Tax revenue
Soil conservation
Health and nutrition
Watershed services
Exports/foreign exchange Biodiversity benefits
Safe food Carbon sequestration
Products for emerging Wildlife habitat
agro-industries
Cultural and heritage
Food and wine tourism
Rural viability habitatbility
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Beyond production…..
the evolving roles of agriculture
Better understand the full range of contributions by agriculture
– direct and indirect links
– public and private benefits
– market and non-market mediated
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Why do it?
Economic and heritage benefits
Olympics for some, WHS for us
Timing is so good, NRM Boards, rural councils, DPLG, Community groups
No regrets strategy
The process helps us better connect city and country
Important role for Environment Institute
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The Role of the Environment Institute
Resource Economics and Policy Centre CF
Landscape Futures WM
Water Research Centre JB
Energy
Business, finance SW and RZ
Environmental and Cultural Geography GH
FoodPlus Research Centre BG
Waite Institute RL
International Trade Institute AS
Humanities
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The Environment Institute
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Special thanks to
Simon Bryant
Cecil Camilleri
Lauren Drewery
Christopher Findlay
Zannie Flanagan
James Hillier
Stephanine Johnston
Anne Moroney
References:
Nature’s Metropolis, William Cronon
On the Margins of the Good Earth, The South Australian wheat frontier
1869-1884, D. Meinig
Paradise of Dissent: South Australia, Douglas Pike
Killing dragons; the conquest of the Alps. Fergus Fleming.
Principles of Political Economy. John Stuart Mill
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Where ideas grow
Next Seminar: 28 August
Professor Graeme Hugo
Is water a limiting factor for population growth in
South Australia?