Around 10% of the subregion is held within nature reserves for conservation purposes, covering about 25% of the remaining vegetation. There is also a small amount of gypsum mining, and a tourist industry centred on Wave Rock near Hyden. The subregion contains populations of "Eucalyptus" and "Melaleuca" species that produce commercial quantities of cineole oil, so in future the subregion is likely to support a plantation-based oil mallee industry, at least as a source of breeding material if not also land.