Linkages created over time in Yass Valley

Revegetation linkages created through Landcare projects over the last 10 years

Linkages created over time in Yass Valley

Revegetation linkages created through Landcare projects over the last 10 years

Capacity to Deliver -

LP031-003

The issue

The Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups in the last 10 years have progressed several native revegetation plantings as well as protecting historical native corridors and paddock trees. The goal of these collective projects has been to create biodiverse native highways through the landscape that will feed, protect and support the movement and of birds and and small mammals through that region as well as providing shelter for stock throughout the year.

Increasing population movement into the Yass Valley has resulted in farming land being converted into residential suburbs. The duplication of the Barton Highway will also cause significant barriers to animal movement in coming years.

The solution

Landcare groups within YAN have worked with funding organisations like the NSW Environmental Trust and Local Land Services to design revegetation projects which have created new native vegetation linkages across the Yass Valley region. Greening Australia ACT Branch and our YAN Landcare nurseries have provided the bulk of the native tubestock and direct seeding services used to create the new vegetation highways for small birds and small mammals. The Yass Habitat Linkages project has several partners in its 10 project.

The impact

Our achievements have been made possible through the adoption of different revegetation techniques depending on landscape characteristics, project and landholder goals. Planting options included the use of traditional tubestock plantings, direct seeding, hand sowing of native seed, the planting of seed production areas to enable future seed collection and the installation of steel guards on newly planted paddock trees.

Learnings

Accept that our landscape will at some time experience drought, fire, possibly flood and variable seasonal weather patterns as our climate changes. Thus each year land managers need to be able to modify our land and stock management practices to accommodate climatic conditions.

Plants need time to demonstrate if the plant has been planted in the correct position in the landscape and survived site climatic conditions, such time is not always available within grant deadlines.

A pamphlet-based case study and you-tube training video detailing vegetation monitoring techniques, in addition to native plantings are permanent reminders of new native vegetation linkages created by YAN Groups within the Yass region.