Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Program <p>The Native Vegetation Research and Development Program commenced in 1994. In its third and final phase it was known as the Native Vegetation and Biodiversity R&amp;D Program. The Program established that a strong link between maintaining productive landscapes and managing healthy native vegetation systems. </p> <h3>Phase Three (2005 - 2009)</h3> <h4><strong>Healthy ecosystems, healthy landscapes</strong></h4> <p>Partnering with CSIRO, the third and final phase of the program recognised that native vegetation (and the diversity within it) plays a critical role in providing ecosystem services such as filtering water and in providing important landscape functions such as reducing salinity.</p> <p>Increasingly, woody vegetation is also recognised as providing critical roles in maintaining production systems such as mitigating the risks of climate change through carbon sequestration.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;For more detail on this program, see the <a href="http://lwa.gov.au/products/ER040990" target="_new">Native Vegetation and Biodiversity R&amp;D Program Plan</a>.</p> <h3>Phase Two (2000 - 2005)</h3> <h4><strong>Practical considerations for managing native vegetation </strong></h4> <p>The second phase of research commenced in July 2000 and was managed by Land &amp; Water Australia in partnership with <a href="http://www.csiro.au/">CSIRO</a> Sustainable Ecosystems, CSIRO Plant Industry and the <a href="http://www.mdbc.gov.au/">Murray Darling Basin Commission</a>. Other contributors to the program included <a href="http://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/GA/NAT/">Greening Australia</a>&nbsp;and State Government agencies.</p> <p><strong>Research projects in 2000 - 2005 focused on:</strong></p> <ul> <li>the long-term status and viability of native vegetation</li> <li>integrating native vegetation into agricultural production systems</li> <li>testing different landscape design principles and methods for biodiversity conservation</li> </ul> <p>Land &amp; Water Australia has commenced a number of activities to synthesise the knowledge gained from this research which will include the delivery of regional workshops, publications and forums.</p> <h3>Phase One (1994 - 2000)</h3> <h4><strong>Understanding vegetation in production landscapes </strong></h4> <p>Phase one of the Program established itself as Australia's leading research broker into the social, economic and ecological aspects of native vegetation management in rural landscapes. The Program was a joint initiative of Land &amp; Water Australia and the <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au">Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts</a>.<br /> <br /> More than 30 ecological, socio-economic and planning projects were funded looking into practical measures to reverse biodiversity loss, and develop measures to support the development of policies and&nbsp;programs to help manage remnant vegetation in rural environments.<br /> <br /> Key messages from this phase revealed that:</p> <ul> <li>cost-sharing incentives are a critical component of improved vegetation practises on private land;</li> <li>understanding the value systems and perceptions of different stakeholders can lead to more targeted and effective approaches to management and education;</li> <li>few landholders incorporate management of native vegetation into their property plans, cropping or grazing strategies or management activities;</li> <li>managing remnant vegetation needs to be considered at a number of scales.</li> </ul> <p>The complexity of addressing multiple goals at multiple scales required continued investment in vegetation management and phase two of the programme was initiated.</p> <h3>Projects</h3> <p>[view:projects_list=insert=447]</p> 2009-04-23T01:02:38Z 2009-10-11T23:33:20Z show-themes NVB 1994 2009