Future Prospects of the Outback Given Current Trends: The Positive Outlook

Another argument is that past problems of the Outback will soon be solved through advances in technology and better understanding of the desert ecosystem. This argument believes that the great expanses of the Outback, if taken care of properly, will be a source of increasing revenue through tourism (Box 170). Additionally, current range lands are primarily concerned with maintaining control of herds (Box 170). If even simple advances to these relatively primitive range lands were implemented, production could increase significantly in the Outback (Box 170). Thus, there is a lot of room for advances to be made in range management. This in turn would lead to less waste and less loss of native plants through grazing.

The Tasmanian Devil (pictured above) became extinct in mainland Australia possibly because it was considered a threat to livestock. Maybe one say, this endangered animal can once again populate the Outback.

(Image source: http://animal.discovery.com/tv/a-list/creature-countdowns/hissy-fits/hissy-fits-05.html)

Ultimately, current trends cannot tell us whether the Outback will head towards a negative path or a positive one. The answer to that question will come in time. If people continue to degrade land in the Outback and invasive species are not controlled, the future will probably see an Australia void of the large amounts of biodiversity it once had, nothing more but a sandy inhospitable desert. If advances in technology leads to  more sustainable ways of living in the Outback, however, the future might see populations of many rare and endangered species of the Outback bounce back to their original levels.