All in Biodiversity

Impact of pesticide mixtures used in irrigation agriculture on freshwater ecosystems

superuser — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:00:13 +0000

The principal aim of the research project is to assess the impacts of commonly used agricultural pesticides when present as mixtures on freshwater aquatic ecosystems.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

PhD Students

Host Organisation:

University of Technoloy Sydney

Researchers:

Catherine Choung

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Contaminants

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Managing landscapes to meet public biodiversity goals and farm business goals

superuser — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:13:01 +0000

This project had four core elements:

IDs and People

Program:

Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Program

Program Theme:

Incorporating native vegetation management

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

DAV40

Researchers:

Department of Primary Industry and Department of Sustainability and Environment

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Landscape Management

Keywords:

farm

business

goals

Project Information

Outcomes:

To identify the capacity of commercial and non-commercial landholders to invest in conservation of native biodiversity, using current resources
To assess the impact of investing in conservation work on the landholders’ cash flow and farm business profitability
To determine what is required (such as resources, dollars, information etc) for landholders to invest in conservation of native
biodiversity
To identify the best, most practical ways of managing native biodiversity while maintaining cash flow, productivity and other
management goals
To assess the on-farm costs and benefits of undertaking any conservation work

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Biodiversity dynamics, habitat loss and disturbance in the NSW wheatbelt

superuser — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:38:46 +0000

This project explored the dynamic nature of vegetation and the animals that depend on it, through a combination of modelling and field studies. It focused at the landscape level aiming to provide a more realistic basis for regional planning in the New South Wales wheatbelt.

IDs and People

Program:

Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Program

Program Theme:

Landscape design principles and methods for biodiversity conservation

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

NNP2

Host Organisation:

New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service

Researchers:

Ross Bradstock

Michael Bedward

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Keywords:

wheatbelt

Project Information

Outcomes:

Identify relationships between the clearing of native vegetation and environmental variables(e.g. climate, topography, soils) in the NSW wheatbelt
Generate possible future landscapes by modelling different vegetation management scenarios
Use models to explore the change in disturbance regimes resulting from clearing and fragmentation
Carry out field studies in several areas of the NSW wheatbelt to assess the modelling work and the insights drawn from it, as well as to refine the models developed
Contribute to the development of new approaches to vegetation management through explicit simulation of target and offset mechanisms, and through a general evaluation of vegetation management proposals against the outputs of this project

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Location

State & NRM Region:

New South Wales

Landscape level thresholds for conservation of biodiversity in rural environments

superuser — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:31:39 +0000

The project aimed to understand the requirements of plant and animal species communities and their landscape level requirements by examining the relationship between measures of biodiversity and native vegetation cover and pattern.

IDs and People

Program:

Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Program

Program Theme:

Methods to assess native vegetation condition

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

DUV6

Host Organisation:

Deakin University - School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Researchers:

Dr Andrew Bennett

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Project Information

Outcomes:

To measure indicators of biodiversity in landscapes that have different levels of vegetation cover (from less than 2 percent to greater than 50 percent) and vegetation pattern (clumped versus dispersed vegetation);
To test the idea of ecological thresholds of landscape cover and pattern below which there is disproportionately rapid decline in
species, faunal groups or ecological processes;
To describe the relationship between the fauna and landscape pattern, and examine the extent to which landscape thresholds differ among different species’ groups and ecological processes;
To propose levels of vegetation cover for the maintenance and conservation of biodiversity at a landscape scale;

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Incorporating biodiversity monitoring into rangeland condition assessment

superuser — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:20:48 +0000

This project explored the extent to which widely used measures of rangeland condition can also serve as surrogates for biodiversity status. Where currently used indicators proved inadequate, new indicators may be developed for use in monitoring critical or sensitive components of biodiversity.

IDs and People

Program:

Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Program

Program Theme:

Methods to assess native vegetation condition

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

TRC1

Host Organisation:

Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre

Researchers:

Alaric Fisher

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Project Information

Outcomes:

To establish the value of widely-used measures of landscape health or pasture condition as surrogates for trends in biodiversity in northern rangelands, and determine which measures are most predictive for which components of biodiversity;
To provide a framework and methodology for monitoring biodiversity in the northern rangelands, so that consideration of biodiversity condition can be incorporated into assessments of landscape health and ecological sustainability (at enterprise and regional scales);
To establish which components of biodiversity, particularly at a species and functional group level, are most susceptible to deterioration in landscape condition;
To provide management decision support systems for the retention of biodiversity in Australia’s northern rangelands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Assessing biodiversity outcomes from waterpoint management in the arid rangelands

superuser — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:09:12 +0000

The aim of this project is to develop, test and refine techniques for measuring biodiversity condition and management outcomes using scientific experiments before and after waterpoint manipulations at spatial scales from site to property on two arid rangeland cattle properties.

IDs and People

Program:

Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Program

Program Theme:

Informing policy and management

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

CSE44

Host Organisation:

CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems

Researchers:

Dr Anita Smyth

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Water (General)

Keywords:

arid

Rangelands

Project Information

Outcomes:

1. Develop indices of biodiversity condition and management outcomes

2. Test:

the assumption that waterpoint management controls total grazing pressure across the landscape
the reliability of indices
the appropriateness of sampling scales for monitoring biodiversity condition and management outcomes, and the influence of natural rainfall events on condition and outcomes from the intervention

3. Standardise, make accessible and document indices of biodiversity condition and management outcomes and their measurement, and make recommendations on the efficacy of waterpoint management as a biodiversity management tool to SA government agencies and other stakeholders

Current Activities

Status:

Active

The fourth dimension: incorporating time into landscape-level biodiversity assessments

superuser — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:54:39 +0000

This project aims to add temporal depth to our understanding of the distribution of native avifauna in relation to the spatial configuration of remnant native vegetation in agricultural landscapes.

IDs and People

Program:

Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Program

Program Theme:

Understanding risks and threatening processes

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

DUV11

Host Organisation:

Deakin University

Researchers:

Dr. Jim Radford

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Project Information

Outcomes:

1. To survey birds using the protocols and sites established during DUV6 - surveys conducted in replicate landscapes that sample a gradient in native vegetation cover and contrasting configuration - thereby enabling temporal change to be assessed

2. To evaluate differences in (a) species richness and (b) incidence of woodland bird species between the sampling periods (2002/03 and 2006/07) in relation to landscape composition and configuration

3. To test the hypotheses that rates (i.e. change over time) of species loss and population decline are negatively correlated with (a) extent and (b) aggregation of native vegetation in the landscape

4. To establish the foundation for a landscape-level, long-term ecological monitoring program to evaluate landscape resilience

5. To communicate knowledge of temporal change to key stakeholders in native vegetation planning and management.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Defining successional patterns and biodiversity values of north Australian eucalypt forests

superuser — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:51:54 +0000

This project aims to improve the management of eucalypt forests in northern Australia by increasing knowledge of their dynamics, diversity and conservation values.

IDs and People

Program:

Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Program

Program Theme:

Understanding risks and threatening processes

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

TRC14

Host Organisation:

Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre

Researchers:

Dr. John Woinarski

Blair Grace

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Keywords:

eucalypt forests

Project Information

Outcomes:

1. To evaluate biodiversity and conservation values of tropical eucalypt forest re-growth across a time series

2. To evaluate biodiversity and conservation values of mature eucalypt forests, with specific reference to hollow formation and other attributes that may be useful in definition of "old-growth"

3. To apply both sets of knowledge to the development of enhanced management of these eucalypt forests, in particular

(i) how re-growth vegetation should be assessed in clearing applications; and

(ii) whether "old-growth" is a useful categorisation for these tropical eucalypt forests, whether it can be operationally defined, and whether this can then be used in clearing assessments and other management

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Looking back, moving forward - Renaissance at Lyndfield

superuser — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:37:43 +0000

John has achieved so much in terms of land management, that his farm ‘Lyndfield Park’ was chosen as the site to launch the Australian Conservation Foundation and National Farmers Federation joint natural resource management campaign.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

John Weatherstone

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Biodiversity

Native Vegetation

Livestock (Mixed)

Keywords:

2001 2002 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

The success didn’t come overnight.

Originally a fine wool merino stud, John started working on ‘Lyndfield Park’ in 1959, clearing trees and improving pastures, but by the early 70’s he noticed some unhealthy changes. Tree dieback, erosion and salinity were emerging; the fertilisers weren’t having the same effect, there was no stock shelter and weeds, pests and diseases were increasing. John was following expert advice and couldn’t work out what was going wrong.

The drought of 82/83 caused a huge re-think at Lyndfield Park. Now there are an extra 70,000 trees, minimum tillage and direct drilling replace intensive cultivation; stocking rates are flexible; erosion is stabilised; perennial pastures replace some annuals and the farm earns more money from natives, than cropping or livestock.

John has now published a small booklet - Lyndfield Park - looking back, moving forward - telling the story of ‘Lyndfield Park’ for other land managers.

Current Activities

Status:

Pending

Farming without farming

superuser — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:06:49 +0000

Christine, Darryl, Colin, Bruce and Greg, want to redefine our attitude to land management, to think about Australian farming in new ways.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Christine Jones

Darryl Cluff

Colin Seis

Bruce Maynard

Greg Martin

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Soils

Livestock (Mixed)

Keywords:

2001 2002 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

Each has a story to tell: about soil regeneration, or increasing biodiversity or increasing profitability. They believe in a new era, not simply planting and waiting for the results, but managing land for a range of living things.

They are a diverse group. Darryl, Colin and Bruce run mixed farms, Greg works for the company Earth Sanctuaries, and Christine Jones specialises in native grass and grasslands. They are pooling their talents to record past experiences in a manual and offer a challenge to future land managers.

Christine Jones’ chapter Recognise, Relate, Innovate is available by clicking on the link.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

The Mungabareena Reserve: Wiradjuri Reconciliation Project 2000 - a 3 year journey

superuser — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:20:53 +0000

Yalmambirra does not give up!

A late comer to University, he now lectures at the Charles Sturt University, but the story Yalmambirra wants to tell is about initiating and maintaining community support in very trying circumstances.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Yalmambirra

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Biodiversity

Conservation

Indigenous

Keywords:

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

Yalmambirra does not give up!

Several years ago, and with the support of the local Wiradjuri Elders, Yalmambirra applied for and received a Natural Heritage Trust Grant to rehabilitate and revegetate about 45 hectares of land. Over many months, the project was disrupted by vandals and by Mother Nature, but Yalmambirra kept at it!

The unsympathetic nature of the community both Indigenous and non-Indigenous did not help.

The future looks a lot brighter. Cattle have been removed and more than 11,500 trees have been planted. Picnic tables, walking tracks and interpretive signs are next on the agenda.

‘I have not given in on the project [to rehabilitate the project area] nor have I given up on the people who have assisted me this far’ says Yalmambirra.

‘My story could be used to enlighten people as to the pitfalls of among many issues: applying for funding, what to do with the funding once it comes through, the attitudes of the community of environmental projects and how to use those attributes. And an awareness of indigenous people and their ties to the land’.

Land & Water Australia will support Yalmambirra to give a series of personal presentations covering these issues.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Landscape: Gold and Water

superuser — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:17:19 +0000

Gold and water are the elements of Mandy Martin’s story.

An artist in the Lachlan Catchment, Mandy is a partner in a property next door to the Cadia / Ridgeway Gold Mine.

Mandy wants to tell the story of the mine from its proposal to the current development and the future.

‘This project is designed to contribute to the debate about the short term benefits of mining against the long term benefits of protecting biodiversity and natural habitat, valuing landscape for its aesthetic qualities and maintaining environmental flows for the river’ says Mandy.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Researchers:

Mandy Martin

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Biodiversity

Conservation

Keywords:

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

Gold and water are the elements of Mandy Martin’s story.

An artist in the Lachlan Catchment, Mandy is a partner in a property next door to the Cadia / Ridgeway Gold Mine.

Mandy wants to tell the story of the mine from its proposal to the current development and the future.

The Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship will support a unique method of story telling a narrative complemented by art including an exhibition at the Cowra Art Gallery with contributions from a group of painters and a community project involving a river of painted rocks!

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Transforming the Land: the story of Lanark

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:30:42 +0000

Just south of Hamilton at Branxholme, John Fenton with his wife Cicely and family has spent nearly 50 years transforming his property Lanark ‘from three windswept paddocks to the complex ecosystem it is today’.

It wasn’t easy.

‘When I was reinstating wetlands, for example, the government was funding the draining of wetlands’ said John.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Social and Institutional Research

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

John Fenton

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Biodiversity

Primary Industries

Water (General)

Project Information

Summary:

It wasn’t easy.

‘When I was reinstating wetlands, for example, the government was funding the draining of wetlands’ said John.

Along the way there have public benefits urban and rural individuals working together to reinstate all the water bodies for the birds that had ‘all but disappeared’ and private rewards - an Honorary Doctorate in Architecture (Landscape Architecture RMIT).

John has ‘long advocated a process that allows the experience and expertise that is gained through on ground practice by individuals and groups on the land to be made available and accessible’.

With support from Land & Water Australias Community Fellowship and working with RMIT and a local author, John will publish the story of Lanark in a multi-media format for local communities or individuals keen to pursue similar goals.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Convergence: wetlands and communities

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:03:55 +0000

Karyn Bradford, a former farmer now business owner, now textile artist, community advocate and very recently, Regional Expansion Officer for Wetland Care Australia.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Karyn Bradford

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Conservation

Water (General)

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

Karyn Bradford, a former farmer now business owner, now textile artist, community advocate and very recently, Regional Expansion Officer for Wetland Care Australia.

Karyn’s story is about turning around community attitudes to help protect a Ramsar listed wetland.

For many years it was seen as a smelly, mozzie infested swamp. It was not valued by the community and locals were quite embarrassed by this eyesore in the centre of town’ says Karyn.

With Karyn’s initiative, the Community’s perceptions turned around, they attracted funding and the Milang Wetland and Snipe Sanctuary Project was born.

With support from a Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship, Karyn will celebrate the 2003 International year of Fresh Water by sharing the Milang experience and exploring the relationship between on ground wetland repair projects and community building.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

The life and lines of Cooper Creek: A tour of the Gulf Country by a grazier from Cooper Creek

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:40:03 +0000

Pastoralist Bob Morrish lives on Kyabra Creek, near Windorah on the Cooper Creek floodplain and is Chairman of the Cooper Creek Protection Group.

Through their joint efforts, the Group secured an ecologically sound outcome for the management of the Cooper’s water resources.

Bob will use his Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship to travel throughout the Gulf region to share his knowledge with communities and encourage them to participate in the water resource planning process currently being undertaken by the Queensland government.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Bob Morrish

Subjects

Subjects:

Native Vegetation

Biodiversity

Water (General)

Rivers and Wetlands

Project Information

Summary:

Pastoralist Bob Morrish lives on Kyabra Creek, near Windorah on the Cooper Creek floodplain and is Chairman of the Cooper Creek Protection Group.

Through their joint efforts, the Group secured an ecologically sound outcome for the management of the Cooper’s water resources.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete