The Crown pastoral lease lands at the heart of the process have been leased from the Government and used for grazing by farmers since the mid - 19th century. Prior to the 1948 Land Act, there was a deterioration in the lands—a tragedy of the commons, in effect—as leaseholders had not been provided with sufficient security of tenure to justify their continued investment in the long-term infrastructure and environmental management required. Rabbits, feral pigs, goats, deer, and weed plants such as gorse had become an issue, and it was acknowledged that a long-term solution was needed.