This update represents just a handful of NRM projects among hundreds across Australia, which are made possible through funding from the Australian Government, state governments and others.
When mangroves burn
In 2021, following the 2019-2020 bushfires that affected mangroves across much of coastal NSW, a collaboration between OceanWatch (NRM), MangroveWatch, local Landcare groups and oyster farmers began.
Aiming to assist the recovery of mangrove areas, the partnership has seen the collection of mangrove seedlings, establishment of a small nursery, and replanting of burned mangrove areas. A great network of scientists, communities and oyster farmers has been formed through the project. It is hoped that this network will form a baseline for continued efforts to help mangroves and their associated wildlife recover from extreme natural events now and into the future.
Find out more here.
New resources available for farmers – My Climate View
South West NRM in WA is working to connect farmers with a new free digital product designed to help them prepare for future climate conditions.
My Climate View provides farmers Australia-wide with critical data to assess how climate trends – including changes to temperature and rainfall – might impact their business for specific commodities and date ranges in their location.
Interested? Visit: https://southwestnrm.org.au/news/connecting-farmers-to-new-climate-data-app/
Native seed collection
Wheatbelt NRM member, Judd Stead combines traditional bush knowledge, with Western practices to upskill local rangers in the collection of native seeds.
Working with Noongar Boodjar Rangers, the journey began several years ago when Rangers learned how to collect seed from Country, and identify, label, extract and clean it, ready for marketing to the bushland revegetation industry.
This project is a big step towards ensuring the survival of unique Wheatbelt flora and the maintenance and restoration of Country. Currently collecting seeds for state government and carbon company projects, the team hope the demand for seed will to continue to increase over the coming years.
Find out more about their progress: https://www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au/whats-happening/news/aboriginal-nrm/seed-new-growth
Environmental flows will bring environmental prosperity
Environmental flows down three connected waterways in the North Central Catchment in Victoria over the next few weeks will see fish on the move and provide perfect conditions for them to feed and access new habitat.
North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Environmental Water Project Officer Max Smiles-Schmidt said the flows are targeted at fish health but will also improve the health of the waterways for other animals.
“Water for environment at the right time of the year encourages female platypuses in the Loddon to select nesting burrows higher up the bank, which will reduce the risk of larger flows later in the year flooding their burrows and killing their puggles” he said.
Find out more about the benefits this will bring here.
Citizen science in the West
Citizen scientists involved in the Turning Gardeners into Conservationists (TGIC) project have recently hit an exciting milestone, with 185 different wildlife species spotted by participating citizen scientists in their gardens over the past 12 months.
The project connects people with the biodiversity in their own gardens by training and supporting citizen scientists to identify and monitor wildlife, and take action to create a wildlife-friendly garden. To contribute to the global conversation on urban greening and biodiversity conservation, Dr Bronte Van Helden (UWA) and Dr Laura Skates (Perth NRM) have each recently shared the TGIC project with national and international audiences. Dr Skates highlighted training workshops, videos, and guides that the project team developed that are garnering international interest as examples of what tools and resources could assist similar projects across the globe.
Find out more here.
Returning to whole-of-catchment planning & management
Since undertaking the Wet Tropics Major Integrated Program in 2017-2021, Terrain NRM has implemented a place-based approach on other projects including the Mossman Integrated Project and Upper Johnstone Integrated Project, funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resource Investment Program.
The aim of place-based projects is to apply holistic catchment planning and management. This approach enables multiple problems such as soil health, erosion control, riparian vegetation health and water quality to be tackled within the broader landscape at the same time.
Find out about what is being done to address catchments outside of the reef here.
Feral first with appointment of NSW pig coordinator
With the help of NSW Local Land Services (LLS), the NSW Government is raising the stakes in the war on pest animals, with the state’s first feral pig coordinator ready to roll out a boosted $13 million control program to support farmers.
Over the next 8 months, NSW Feral Pig Coordinator Bec Gray will drive the program to cull at least 87,000 feral pigs across NSW with high focus on the 3 priority hotspots.
With predicted dry and warm weather over summer, efforts will focus around persistent water resources as pigs concentrate in these areas as other watering holes disappear. NSW LLS will monitor and adapt programs based on feral pig behaviours and movements.
Find out about what is being done here.
Buchan River rock ramp fishway success
A threatened native fish species, an Australian grayling, has been found at the top of the newly constructed fishway in the Buchan River, Victoria.
“This is inspiring news and exactly what we were hoping monitoring would prove - that fish can now migrate upstream of the weir. and the fact that a threatened species was found is icing on the cake.” Said Bec Hemming, East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s CEO.
Find out more here.