Landcare benefits from ANU Science Support
Landcare benefits from ANU Science Support
A collaboration between the Australian National University’s Fenner Institute and Landcare networks in the Central Tablelands and Central West regions is building knowledge and skills for better Box Gum Grassy Woodland management on farmland.
Capacity to Deliver -
NSWLP – 016_R002
The issue
Box Gum Grassy Woodland (BGGW) is a Federal and State recognised endangered ecological community (EEC). Whilst this vegetation community is extensive in its range, occurring from southern Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria, its association with fertile soils has resulted in extensive degradation due to agricultural land use such as clearing, set stock grazing, fertiliser and herbicide use. Unlike many other EECs, the Box Gum Grassy Woodland almost exclusively occurs on privately held land. The challenge therefore is to engage, educate and support landholders to value, protect and enhance this EEC without losing out financially. A significant challenge indeed!
The solution
With these challenges in mind, Regional Landcare Coordinators and Local Land Services Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators in the Central Tablelands are working with the Australian National University’s Fenner Institute through their Sustainable Farms Project to build the capacity of local Landcare Coordinators and host committee members in ecological management of BGGW.
The impact
By freely sharing evidence-based science, ANU research ecologists assist Landcare to maximise the ecological outcomes of projects they are delivering on private land in their network areas. Example projects include protecting rocky outcrops, connecting woodland remnants, enhancing superb parrot habitat and ground cover management through grazing projects. So fa,r one online introduction session has been provided by the ANU and follow up online, face to face and field-based sessions, including a regional bus tour of farm sites, has been discussed.
Learnings
Moving to an online learning environment has enabled more people from a broader area to participate in this training opportunity. The initial Introductory session was attended by local Landcare Coordinators and host committee members from both the Central Tablelands and Central West regions.
Landcare is looking forward to moving into the paddock and learning field skills from ANU’s ecologists. Some future topics will include setting up monitoring sites, identifying ecological recovery indicators post drought or bushfire and enhancing biodiversity at the site, farm and landscape scale.
Key facts
- Box Gum Grassy Woodland EEC occurs extensively on private land.
- Research indicates that managing for biodiversity on farms can also have production benefits.
- Landcare extends the reach of ANU’s research findings to their local communities and project participants.