Assessing Resource Dependency on the Rangelands as a Measure of Climate Sensitivity

Climate change is altering the quality and availability of natural resources with far-reaching implications for resource users and the extensive social and economic systems that they support. Those who are particularly dependent on a climate sensitive resource will be especially sensitive to climate changes. Measuring resource dependency is key to understanding the sensitivity of resource users to climate change. I assessed 100 cattle-graziers in Queensland, Australia, for their dependency on grazing lands. I assessed their (i) attachment to place, (ii) attachment to occupation, (iii) family circumstances, (iv) employability, (v) networks, (vi) financial circumstances, (vii) business characteristics, (viii) local knowledge and skills, and (ix) attitudes and behavior. Results indicate that graziers are highly resource dependent, socially and economically. Understanding dependency in its entirety may provide the foundations for developing strategic efforts to reduce climate vulnerability and assist resource users to cope and adapt.