Caring for our Country Regional Investment: Incentives for Biodiversity Conservation on Rural and Broad Acre Land in the ACT
Photo: Greening Australia Capital Region
This project aims to stimulate the involvement of landholders in stewardship for biodiversity assets on their land through tailored incentives. Considerable momentum has been gained through ACT Land Keepers engaging rural land managers in sustainable land management practices. Greening Australia Capital Region (GACR) has received positive feedback about the efficacy of the program from recipients, and have an established waiting list of rural landholders wanting to continue and or establish new areas of conservation works.
The project uses an experienced project manager to engage rural land managers to implement various activities to improve rural land including soil health and biodiversity; protection and management of threatened species and communities; reduction in the impact and threat of WONS and locally significant weeds; improvements in water quality; and improved farm practices that together contribute to on-farm reductions in carbon emissions and increased carbon storage.
The project provides opportunities for rural land managers to become better informed about sustainable farm practices and provides technical and financial support for them to undertake initiatives, including:
· Re-establishment of native vegetation for stock shelter, promoting effective grazing management of farming land, and reducing erosion to improve biodiversity, soil and land health.
· Riparian restoration including the exclusion and/or restricted management of stock on riparian zones, revegetation and weed control to improve riverine health and riparian condition of streams flowing through rural and non-urban lands.
· Rehabilitation of degraded areas to reduce soil erosion and decrease sediment and nutrient loads entering waterways to address soil health and water quality.
· Reintroducing local provenance seed and seedlings of understorey, tree and shrub species in Grassy Woodland and Grassland communities as part of improving the protection and management of threatened species and communities. Significant percentages of endangered ecological communities in the ACT and immediate region are on privately managed land and GACR will work closely with rural landholders to raise awareness and ensure such communities are valued in sustainable farming practices.
· Removal and control of WONS in rural and riparian zones to reduce the impact and threat of weeds of national significance and locally significant weeds.
· Exploration of interest in perennial pasture establishment with native grasses and forbs trialling techniques for long term establishment addressing soil health and sustainable agriculture.
The project works closely with the NSW Department of Primary Industry and the ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS) and will host 2 field days promoting and encouraging improved farm management featuring pasture/stock management, revegetation and Whole of Paddock Rehabilitation (WOPR).
The project will also encourage sustainable agriculture through site visits, production of interpretive material and liaison between scientists, government and rural land managers. The project will continue to promote Whole of Paddock Rehabilitation (WOPR) in the ACT through information dissemination and field days – potentially providing leveraging opportunities from other GACR projects. WOPR integrates conservation and production goals by strategically returning native trees and shrubs into agricultural land, and rehabilitates degraded woodlands by combining a five year grazing spell with the reintroduction of native perennial plants. Paddock tree decline, loss of perennial vegetation and native groundcover are addressed through WOPR, creating landscape linkages and increased connectivity. It is beneficial for production as is creates shade and shelter for livestock, provides a lambing haven, improves soil carbon and offers additional forage for stock. This will enable leveraging of other Caring for our Country investment to the benefit of ACT natural resource assets.
The project is being delivered under the ACT Land Keepers program and is managed by a field extension project manager provided by GACR, who has already developed a strong relationship with the ACT rural community.
Since ACT Land Keepers began in 2005, 77 rural land managers have been engaged in the protection, enhancement and reestablishment of both terrestrial and riparian native vegetation in rural ACT. Although the project already has a waiting list of rural landholders wanting to continue and or establish new areas of conservation works the project is also targeting rural land mangers not previously involved.
The project manager will work closely with the ACT Rural landholders Association, Catchment Groups and the ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS) to conduct site assessments, design and develop site management and works plans, implement on-ground works, coordinate follow up maintenance and administer finance to land managers. The project manager manages detailed site information and site activities including mapping data for all sites.
The success of the project is being measured by several methods. Project outputs are being recorded on a well-developed GACR project management database which demonstrates the level of involvement from land managers, areas being addressed, species established, and techniques implemented. As part of an on-going monitoring program through ACT Land Keepers, GACR conducts vegetation surveys, enters survey data and analyses monitoring data. Monitoring a sample of sites provides information on the outcomes achieved from these outputs such as species survival, habitat value, soil stability and health, and rates of natural regeneration. The project partner other community groups such as Waterwatch and Friends of Grasslands to assist with additional monitoring.
Informal measurements of success is also undertaken through stakeholder feedback and a social/qualitative survey of project participants.
As part of individual site agreements, land managers work with the project manager to identify and agree on short and long term management actions to ensure site maintenance is performed. Liaison also occurs with land managers during site establishment and follow up site visits are arranged works have been completed.
Project sites will result in positive effects on surrounding areas such as improved water quality through reduced sediment and nutrient input into waterways, reduced weeds, increased biodiversity and habitat for wildlife. On-farm production benefits will include shelter for stock, better pasture management and improved soil health. From previous experience, it is expected that rural land managers involved in the project will encourage neighbours to become involved in conservation works and sustainable farming practices.
