landscape restoration in the buntine-marchagee · priority biodiversity assets, particularly wetl d...
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Landscape Restoration in the
Buntine-MarchageegNatural Diversity Recovery Catchment
Gavan MullanDECMIDWEST REGION
Contentsa) Location
b) About the projectb) About the project
c) Biological assets
d) Meeting the challenge of management
e) Summary of actions to datee) Summary of actions to date(planning + on-ground)
f) Winsf) Wins
g) Future works
h) Review
About the project…
DEC, through the Salinity Strategy , g y gy
(2000) is responsible for ensuring
significant natural areas, such as
wetlands, threatened by salinity are wetlands, threatened by salinity are
protected.
About the project…
This is achieved through the selection of This is achieved through the selection of
priority catchment areas, called Natural
Diversity Recovery Catchments (NDRC),
that have been identified under the State that have been identified under the State
Salinity Action Plan and information from
the related biological survey.
About the project…Aim of Natural Diversity Recovery Catchments:
1. To protect and where possible restore high1. To protect and where possible restore high
priority biodiversity assets, particularly
tl d th t th t d b li it wetlands, that are threatened by salinity,
and which are regionally significant.
2 To contribute to the development of 2. To contribute to the development of
technologies to combat salinity throughout
the agricultural region.
About the project…
In the Buntine-Marchagee there is a wide
diversity of regionally significant natural areas diversity of regionally significant natural areas
(wetlands), threatened by salinity (five distinct
‘types’ of wetlands).
Priority biodiversity asset:Naturally saline braided wetland channel (aerial view)
Priority biodiversity asset:Wetland with special substrate: Gypsum (calcium sulphate)
Priority biodiversity asset:Wetland with special substrate: Bentonite (type of clay)
Priority biodiversity asset:Fresh-brackish wetland
Priority biodiversity asset:Fresh-water claypan wetland
Meeting the challenge
a) Values based planning;
b) Multiple partnerships;) p p p ;
c) Integrated packages of on-ground) g p g gactions.
Although none of these management elements are new, their combination and application over multiple land tenures and long (greater than 10 year) timeframes at g (g y )landscape scales is unusual in Australian agricultural landscapes.
Summary of actions to date:y
(planning & on-ground)
Recovery Plan: 2007 – 2027 & Supporting Information
Steering Committee:Values based planning; multiple partnerships
Aquatic invertebrates as ‘biological’ indicators
Aquatic invertebrates as ‘biological’ indicators
Vegetation health as a ‘biological’ indicator
Surface water flow, & groundwater levels as a ‘physical’ indicator
Integrated Water ManagementAbout 12,000 ha treated to date
Integrated Water ManagementNational accreditation of a local contractor for construction of conservation earthworks
Integrated Water ManagementIntegrated Water ManagementLandholder viewing operation of grassed waterway following large rainfall event in
December 2007 (1-in-45 year event).
Integrated Water Management:upgraded culvert under construction
Integrated Water Management:Revegetation for habitat & water use
Integrated Water Management:Mallee eucalypts (for oil, biomass products, carbon storage)
Integrated Water Management:Revegetation – saltbush alleys for fodder
Support of mallee water-use research
Landscape Design for Bird Conservation; & a Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy of this design
Winsa) On-ground:
t l t bi l i l t▪ too early to measure biological outcomes,however, revegetation has improvedprobability of persistence of biota near toprobability of persistence of biota near topriority biological assets threatened bysalinity (via implementation of LandscapeDesign + use of well established restorationDesign + use of well established restorationprinciples);
▪ improved management of private property.About 12,000 ha treated with IntegratedW t M tWater Management.
Wins…continuedb) Knowledge gained:
▪ increased survey effort has revealed moreycomplete list of species;
▪ large monitoring effort is contributing tolarge monitoring effort is contributing tounderstanding of altered hydrology –relevant to SW Australia;
▪ large scale implementation of IntegratedWater Management (planning &operational);
▪ refined revegetation techniques tog qachieve high establishment success inconsecutive ‘record dry years’ (06-07).
Wins…continued
c) New industry development:) y p
▪ contribution to the commerciallyprospective mallee eucalypt industry;prospective mallee eucalypt industry;
plant water-use research;
building up product in the paddock;
Wins…continued
d) Positive comments by landowners:
▪ preference for long term projects withconsistent resources;
▪ value the quality of work;
value the landscape scale of work▪ value the landscape scale of work.
e) Recognition from the Global Restoration e) Recognition from the Global Restoration Network:
▪ one of Australasia’s ‘Highly Commended’▪ one of Australasia s Highly Commendedecological restoration projects (2009)
Future works…
a) Use of ‘Risk Analysis’ and ‘expert groups’ to help with actions at or immediately adjacent help with actions at, or immediately adjacent to assets (managing the altered hydrology issue););
b) Asset-targeted management intervention;
c) Further development of Monitoring & Evaluation to show relationship between Evaluation to show relationship between management intervention and condition of biological assets.
Review
P t t d h ibl t t ti Protect and where possible restore representative samples of important biological assets
Reviewa) Landscape scale project targeting important
biological assets threatened by salinity;▪ contributes to sustainable & profitable
land use on private property;
b) Cross tenure works: most on private property;p p y;
c) Values-based planning;
d) Multiple partnerships;
e) ‘Integrated packages’ of on-ground works;e) Integrated packages of on ground works;
Review…continued
f) On-going commitment of resources (f nds and people)(funds and people);
g) Successful large scale on ground works;g) Successful large scale on-ground works;
h) One of Australasia’s ‘Highly Commended’ h) One of Australasia s Highly Commended ecological restoration projects under the Global Restoration Network;
h) Accountable process.
Further information
http://www dec wa gov au/land/http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/land/salinity/recovery-catchments.html
Brochure
Investigation reports & case studies g p
Buntine-MarchageeBuntine-MarchageeNatural Diversity Recovery Catchment
David Lindsay Melissa Rowan GavanDavid Lindsay Melissa Rowan Gavan
The team