Working together: cross property planning for biodiversity conservation

Balancing production and conservation – because you can

First meeting at Illabo-Bethungra, 2012

Production is the bottom line. Making a living, educating the kids, building a business. But farmers have always excelled at juggling; balancing the imperatives of business with the maintenance of the precious natural resources which give us a living and provide a beautiful, rich and unique natural environment in which to live.

Across the Murrumbidgee region, native vegetation now exists in predominantly small, scattered remnants across multiple properties. Over the past three years groups of farmers have been working together using a a “cross property planning” model to work to protect and reconnect a fragmented landscape. This has huge benefits for native flora and fauna, protecting and improving crucial habitat and biodiversity. It also has benefits for production including weed and pest control, beneficial insects and significant improvement in soil and water quality.

In a 5 year project, funded by the NSW Environmental Trust, Murrumbidgee Landcare has received funding to continue to support farmers in this work. Training and planning support, field days and funds for on-ground works and weed control are available for farmers participating in cross-property planning.

Cross property planning groups are being supported in the Junee/Illabo, Humula/Tarcutta and Kyeamba districts.

If you would like to join a group or participate in the project, please contact:

Sam Shannon,

sshannon@murrumbidgeelandcare.asn.au

mob. 0487 953 776