On a overcast and damp morning in Adelaide, Australia’s Governor General Michael Jeffery, set the stage for the 2nd International Salinity Conference Forum. In a well researched, written, and delivered speech Governor Jeffery outlined the significance of the “salinity issue” in Australia and Internationally referring the “footy field each hour” of Australian landscape being consumed by salinity. It was pleasing to hear a reference to “Landcare, Catchment Management, and Regional Networks as managing the solutions The governor was roundly complimented for his address by Chair Alex Campbell

Welcome to Country

Uncle Lewis O’Brien delivered a poignant and powerful welcome to country

.. “the future will depend on the nature of human aspirations, values, preferences, and choices …”

Professor Will Stefen in his presentation Surviving the Anthropocene: Challenges for the 21st Century scared the pants of all present and underlined the urgency for earth repair. He presented salinity as just one of a suite of threats to the global ecosystem. His closing remarks were that while science and policy were vitally important …. “the future will depend on the nature of human aspirations, values, preferences, and choices …”

” A nation that destroys it’s soil, destroys itself” Franklin D Roosevlet 1935

Professor Warren Wood from Michigan State University focussed on the role of salinity in soils one approach science and emphatic and courageous political action or the other approach business as usual. Salinisation Prof Warren said is like a heart attack, it’s sudden and devastating.

The Convener of the 2nd International Salinity Forum, is Dr Richard Price of Kiri-ganai Research