The Sustainable Wildlife Enterprises (SWE) trials seek to give effect to the recommendations of the 1998 Senate inquiry into the Commercial Use of Native Australian Wildlife. The Senate drew attention to the success of alternative ways of managing wildlife overseas, and recommended they be trialed in Australia.
Income from wildlife resources on private lands in some overseas countries is greater than that from conventional livestock production. A notable example is South Africa, where the area of private nature reserves greatly exceeds that of the national park network. These areas have played a major role in the recovery of wildlife populations, to levels not experienced in 150 years.