Don't separate the wool from the trees

Environmental protection and profitable grazing systems are entirely compatible and need to be core business goals for all Australian woolgrowers.

That’s the viewpoint of McKell Medal-winning woolgrower Tom Dunbabin, who spoke to more than 200 delegates at the Australian Wool Innovation Limited Woolgrower Forum as part of the IWTO Congress in Tasmania.

“As one of the country’s largest land-use enterprises and adapted to a wide spectrum of environmental conditions, our wool industry has a unique role in the management of our land and water resources,” he said.

“Across the vast area of Australia that supports wool production, the industry faces many environmental challenges. However, within our own business, we know that grazing native pastures can be a profitable activity, providing a low-input system is well planned and managed.”

Mr Dunbabin argued that well-managed natural resources are the key to profitable and sustainable grazing systems, resulting in a win:win outcome for woolgrowers and the environment.

“As part of our grazing operation in Tasmania we manage extensive areas of native grasslands and woodlands, as well as riparian and coastal areas bordering sown pastures,” he said.

“Our management strategy is to maintain and enhance the natural biodiversity and the livestock grazing value. Native pastures account for 20 per cent of our total grazing capacity, and are profitable – provided a low input system can be maintained.

“Our 60 off-stream watering points are the key to riparian area management. They remove one of the greatest restraints when designing and constructing fences that enable high utilisation of sown pastures and well-managed riparian and coastal areas.”

Mr Dunbabin is currently Chair of the wool industry’s Sustainable Wool Advisory Group; a reference committee appointed by Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) and Land & Water Australia which provides advice to the national Land, Water & Wool research initiative.

Mr Dunbabin, together with his wife Cynthia and their son Matt, are fourth and fifth generation woolgrowers on their family’s historic, 6000-hectare property ‘Bangor’ near Dunalley in Tasmania’s south-east. They also run Merino wethers on a 2000ha property ‘The Quoin’ near Ross in the Midlands.

For further information contact: Tom Dunbabin, ‘Bangor’, Dunalley, Tel (03) 6253 5233

Citation

Land & Water Australia. 2005. Don't separate the wool from the trees . [Online] (Updated November 20th, 2007)
Available at: http://lwa.gov.au/node/51 [Accessed Wednesday 29th of February 2012 07:55:32 PM ].