Midlands Research Explores Wool Profit Link to Healthy Native Vegetation

_This project is complete. Follow this link to view the final report [Biodiversity conservation integrated into sustainable grazing systems (Tasmania)](http://landwaterwool.gov.au/index.php?q=node/16)._

A major research project taking place in the Midlands region of Tasmania is proving just how important native pastures are to fine wool production – and the importance of grazing to maintaining habitat for certain threatened plant species.

The Tasmanian regional project, Biodiversity conservation integrated into sustainable grazing systems, is looking at how woolgrowers currently manage their native vegetation for production purposes on-farm.

The Midlands is well-known for producing some of the world’s most prestigious wool that can sell for record prices. Not so well-known is the fact that the wool-producing enterprises in the region are largely based on native vegetation that can be of high conservation significance.

The main trial plots for the study are situated in the upper Macquarie catchment area but investigations are also being carried out in other parts of the Midlands. Project Manager, University of Tasmania’s Jamie Kirkpatrick, is working with local woolgrowers to conduct grazing trials (including set stocking, rotational grazing and cell grazing systems) and look at on-farm biodiversity throughout the region.

One of the growers involved in the grazing trials is John Cameron of ‘Charlton’ at Ross. The research involves examining the impacts of a range of different grazing management strategies taking place on ‘Charlton’.

“I think farmers are environmentally aware, and want to make sure that the ‘footprint of farming’ on the landscape is sustainable,” John said.

“The trials have been in place for 12 months now and in the next few years we hope to see results which will give farmers better knowledge of the environment they farm in and better tools to manage it.”

Jamie Kirpatrick said native pastures are particularly important to fine wool production in Tasmania.

“Most of the native pastures and bush-runs are found in white gum and black peppermint country with tussock grass, kangaroo grass and wallaby grass,” he said.

“While there are many benefits to native pastures, one of the disadvantages according to growers is that the carrying capacity of native pastures is low compared to improved pastures. However, this is offset by lower management costs.” Importantly, according to Jamie: “we have found that many threatened native plant species such as the Grassland Paper Daisy and the Grassland Cupflower now rely on grazing to maintain their habitat.”

Uniquely, the continuity of family ownership of many of the properties has meant that observation and experience can be related over several generations.

Such is the interest in the project locally that there are now more that 100 trial plots underway throughout the Midlands.

“One of the major priorities will be to communicate the economic and ecological value of the native vegetation to local woolgrowers. Native pasture and its conservation values are extremely important factors, underpinning what is a significant industry for Tasmania,” Jamie said.

“At this stage of the project we have developed a series of indicative key performance indicators (KPIs) for environmental best practice and we are about to test these with woolgrowers to see if they are practical,” Jamie said.

“A number of the world’s biggest retailers of woolen garments are showing increased interest in using wool that is produced with minimal impact on the natural environment.”

“It will be interesting to see how the KPIs the project is developing will fit into their requirements for environmental criteria.”

“There are a lot of really good people operating big properties in the Midlands. If we continue along these lines, there is huge potential to sell Tasmanian wool as something that embraces biodiversity and is environmentally responsible,” Jamie said.

First published November 2004. For more information go to the Managing Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Sub-program.

Citation

Land & Water Australia. 2007. Midlands Research Explores Wool Profit Link to Healthy Native Vegetation . [Online] (Updated November 22nd, 2007)
Available at: http://lwa.gov.au/node/86 [Accessed Monday 25th of April 2011 10:25:31 PM ].