Are rural land practices in the Murray-Darling Basin a threat to the environment?

Over the last 150 years Australia has gained great economic rewards from the use of the natural resources of the Murray-Darling Basin. However, many of the methods used to gain those benefits are now seen as unsustainable. To maintain the region's productivity in the future, a different approach to managing its natural resources is needed. This paper explains the economic and environmental importance of the Basin, describes the degradation that has occurred, and summarises the efforts being made to achieve sustainable management of the region.