Barkly Landcare & Conservation Association Inc.

Establishing sound land management practices in the Barkly Region of the Northern Territory

Investing in Projects to Change Investing in Projects to Change Practice and Build Community Practice and Build Community

CapacityCapacity__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Barkly Landcare & Conservation AssociationBarkly Landcare & Conservation AssociationNorthern Territory, AustraliaNorthern Territory, Australia

Presented by Naomi WilsonPresented by Naomi WilsonLandcare FacilitatorLandcare Facilitator

The Barkly

Western AustraliaWestern Australia

QueenslandQueensland

Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory

South AustraliaSouth Australia

New South WalesNew South Wales

VictoriaVictoria

TasmaniaTasmania

PERTHPERTH

HOBARTHOBART

SYDNEYSYDNEY

DARWINDARWIN

ADELAIDEADELAIDE

BRISBANEBRISBANE

MELBOURNEMELBOURNE

ALICE SPRINGSALICE SPRINGS

Western AustraliaWestern Australia

QueenslandQueensland

Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory

South AustraliaSouth Australia

New South WalesNew South Wales

VictoriaVictoria

TasmaniaTasmania

PERTHPERTH

HOBARTHOBART

SYDNEYSYDNEY

DARWINDARWIN

ADELAIDEADELAIDE

BRISBANEBRISBANE

MELBOURNEMELBOURNE

ALICE SPRINGSALICE SPRINGS

Western AustraliaWestern Australia

QueenslandQueensland

Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory

South AustraliaSouth Australia

New South WalesNew South Wales

VictoriaVictoria

TasmaniaTasmania

PERTHPERTH

HOBARTHOBART

SYDNEYSYDNEY

DARWINDARWIN

ADELAIDEADELAIDE

BRISBANEBRISBANE

MELBOURNEMELBOURNE

ALICE SPRINGSALICE SPRINGS

Size: 19m HectaresRoughly 15% of the NTNT – 135m Ha

Population:Barkly Region – 7,325Tennant Creek – 3,099(ABS 2009)

Rainfall:Annual median – 380mmSummer wet seasonWinter dry season

The Barkly

Barkly EnglandSize 19 million Ha 13 million Ha

Population 7,325 51 million

Western AustraliaWestern Australia

QueenslandQueensland

Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory

South AustraliaSouth Australia

New South WalesNew South Wales

VictoriaVictoria

TasmaniaTasmania

PERTHPERTH

HOBARTHOBART

SYDNEYSYDNEY

DARWINDARWIN

ADELAIDEADELAIDE

BRISBANEBRISBANE

MELBOURNEMELBOURNE

ALICE SPRINGSALICE SPRINGS

Western AustraliaWestern Australia

QueenslandQueensland

Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory

South AustraliaSouth Australia

New South WalesNew South Wales

VictoriaVictoria

TasmaniaTasmania

PERTHPERTH

HOBARTHOBART

SYDNEYSYDNEY

DARWINDARWIN

ADELAIDEADELAIDE

BRISBANEBRISBANE

MELBOURNEMELBOURNE

ALICE SPRINGSALICE SPRINGS

Western AustraliaWestern Australia

QueenslandQueensland

Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory

South AustraliaSouth Australia

New South WalesNew South Wales

VictoriaVictoria

TasmaniaTasmania

PERTHPERTH

HOBARTHOBART

SYDNEYSYDNEY

DARWINDARWIN

ADELAIDEADELAIDE

BRISBANEBRISBANE

MELBOURNEMELBOURNE

ALICE SPRINGSALICE SPRINGS

Western AustraliaWestern Australia

QueenslandQueensland

Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory

South AustraliaSouth Australia

New South WalesNew South Wales

VictoriaVictoria

TasmaniaTasmania

PERTHPERTH

HOBARTHOBART

SYDNEYSYDNEY

DARWINDARWIN

ADELAIDEADELAIDE

BRISBANEBRISBANE

MELBOURNEMELBOURNE

ALICE SPRINGSALICE SPRINGS

Western AustraliaWestern Australia

QueenslandQueensland

Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory

South AustraliaSouth Australia

New South WalesNew South Wales

VictoriaVictoria

TasmaniaTasmania

PERTHPERTH

HOBARTHOBART

SYDNEYSYDNEY

DARWINDARWIN

ADELAIDEADELAIDE

BRISBANEBRISBANE

MELBOURNEMELBOURNE

ALICE SPRINGSALICE SPRINGS

Western AustraliaWestern Australia

QueenslandQueensland

Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory

South AustraliaSouth Australia

New South WalesNew South Wales

VictoriaVictoria

TasmaniaTasmania

PERTHPERTH

HOBARTHOBART

SYDNEYSYDNEY

DARWINDARWIN

ADELAIDEADELAIDE

BRISBANEBRISBANE

MELBOURNEMELBOURNE

ALICE SPRINGSALICE SPRINGS

=1 2.7

The Barkly

The Barkly

Cyclone Yasi, Cyclone Carlos and extended low monsoonal troughs

The Barkly

Total annual rainfall for 2008 - 270mm

The Barkly

Land systems:89 distinct land systems

Broad land types:“Black soil” – Mitchel grass downs on black cracking clay (includes bluebush swamps and lakes)

“Red soil” or “Desert country” – Spinifex, Acacia and Eucalypts on red sandy clays and red earths

“Hill county” or “Granite country” or “Limestone country” – limestone or granite rocky outcrops and rises

The Barkly

Barkly Lakes: Five lake systems include Lake Woods, Eva Downs Swamp, Lake Tarrabool, Corella Lake and Lake Sylvester.Some of Australia’s largest inland freshwater lakes. Termination point of nearly all the water courses on the Barkly Considered ephemeral, though some lakes rarely dry up completely Recognised as being of national conservation significance and currently being considered for RAMSAR classification. Balancing conservation and production values in this area is a key challenge for the Barkly community and industry.

The Barkly

Land Use: Indigenous – 1.9m ha (10%)Pastoral (Beef) – 15.6m ha (81%)Government – 1.7m ha (9%)

Nature conservation reserves only cover 0.6%

of the Barkly

The Barkly

Pastoral Land: 37 Pastoral production (beef) operations31 Corporate owned6 Family owned

Average property size: 420,000ha

Average number of cattle per property fluctuates according to season but is about 50,000 head and can be up to 80,000.

The Barkly

Barkly Landcare

Formed: 1995

Membership: 37 pastoral land holders (100%) and a number of non-pastoral members connected to the Barkly and industry

Staff: 1 Landcare Facilitator (me)1 Project Manager – Weeds

Resources:TNRM Facilitation fundingCFOC project funding Private contributions ($1:$4)Fee for service

Barkly Landcare

Executive committee: Elected from the membership annually.5 Office bearing positions3-5 additional committee positions

Primary Focus on the Barkly is to support pastoralists to:

Adopt BMP techniquesAccess industry and Govt networks and resourcesRespond to and prevent degradation processesImprove production values

Projects and activities: Weed managementConservation areasGrazing managementSoil health

Objectives: We have set objectives that will lead us towards realising our vision:

Develop the capacity of land managers on the Barkly to take effective resource management action

Implement targeted on-ground works and capacity building projects that are delivering a measurable reduction in threat to key assets, leading to improvements in land and resource condition

Develop a robust, prosperous organisation supported by resources that ensure the capacity to deliver valued services to its members and the Barkly region

Develop local, Territory and national networks and partnerships that support our organisational and recourse management objectives.

Thinking StrategicallyVision:

We see a bright future for the Barkly that holds unbound potential for a region where:

Resilient and productive landscapes successfully balance production and ecosystem outcomes in a climate of change

Profitable, adaptive primary industries have the capacity and drive to sustain their managed and natural landscapes

Connected communities capitalise on the value of shared knowledge

Values: At the core of our actions is the high value we place on a resilient, active community, productive local industry and a healthy natural landscape. We recognise the vital role our landscape plays in supporting our region and will work effectively to manage our: Areas of conservation significance Water systems Premium production zones Change buffersTo maintain these values we are managing for: Weed invasion Soil quality Water quality Effects of production activities Fire Pest animals Climate variability

That’s great... but where do we

start?

Making Decisions About PrioritiesWe developed a series of VERY basic “models” to help us to define not just WHAT but WHERE our valuable assets are and to be clear on WHY they are valuable.

Making Decisions About Priorities

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Weeds are one of our most significant management issues, particularly:

Parkinsonia Prickly Acacia

Mesquite

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Barriers to effective action: Lack of spatial data – where are the weeds?

Unable to access reliable knowledge, information and practical advice

Competing demands – needed someone to provide consistent drive

Difficulty collaborating in a remote landscape

Finding and maintaining a long-term focus

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Our weed project “formula”Our weed projects essentially include a number of key elements to address these barriers:

Aerial survey to map infestations

Workshops that directly connect pastoralists weed scientists

An initial and comprehensive strategic treatment program that provides action learning opportunities

Development of 10-year property weed management plans with a practical focus – what to do, when, where, how and what resources will be needed each year

Establishment of long-term monitoring (with a commitment to maintain these sites and communicate learnings from them beyond the life of the project)

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Aerial Survey

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

The Georgina Project

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Strategic Management of Parkinsonia in the Upper Georgina Catchment, NT.

Project Area: 3.5m HaPastoral Leases: 12Budget: $153,000Duration: 12 months Georgina UpperGeorgina Upper

3,500,000 ha3,500,000 haGeorgina UpperGeorgina Upper3,500,000 ha3,500,000 ha

LAKE NASH

ROCKLANDS

SOUDAN

ADDER

ALEXANDRIA

AVON DOWNS

GEORGINA DOWNS

BURRAMURRA

WEST RANKEN

EAST RANKEN

AUSTRAL DOWNS

LAKE NASH

ROCKLANDS

SOUDAN

ADDER

ALEXANDRIA

AVON DOWNS

GEORGINA DOWNS

BURRAMURRA

WEST RANKEN

EAST RANKEN

AUSTRAL DOWNS

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Surveyed 1590 km2 or 2500km of watercourse

Generated 3 spatial data layers, maps and GPS data

NLP PASTORALISTS TOTALR44 Hire $22, 500 $22,500R22 Hire $4,250 $3,330 $7,580AvGas $5,341 $5,341TOTAL $26,750 $8,671 $35,421

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Example: The survey uncovered infestations that land managers didn’t know were there and wouldn’t have included in the treatment program. Unknown and untreated infestations jeopardise investments downstream.

2008 DOWN STREAM INVESTMENT: $140,000 (approx)

COST OF SURVEY: $1,700 of a total $35,000

Mapping up front can cost a lot.........but it can save you a whole lot more.

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Treatment of Parkinsonia and Mesquite across the project areas was completed by the end of October.

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Treatment results Estimated 90% kill rate Drought conditions impacted significantly

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Treatment results That following summer....

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Likely short-term outcomes Significant changes in the population structure Significant changes in the productivity parkinsonia

infestations in the catchment

In a typical Barkly season one adult parkinsonia can produce around 5,000 seeds and up to 13,000 seeds if conditions are

favourable.

Without the 2008 treatment program potential seed production in the Georgina catchment would be in the tens of millions

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

3-part workshop Parkinsonia ecology, impacts and management Property weed management planning GIS tools for weed and resource management

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Management Plans include Commitment statement Key information for successful

management outcomes Outlined management approach Defined management zones Property maps Treatment schedule with specific

defined actions Reporting template Addition information on

managed species

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

A total of 60 monitor sites established Established 22 Tier 1 sites to measure changes in

surrounding pasture and vegetation Established 38 Population Quadrat sites to

measure changes in parkinsonia population and community structure.

50m

10m

10m

Photo Picket

Centre Picket

Random Quadrat

50mSouth West Picket

A = 3, J = 10, S=8

50m

A

A

A

J

JJJ

J

J

JJ

JJ

SS

SS

SS S

S

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Value of Long-term Monitoring

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

No parki present

Most sites well below 50

individuals

Only a few sites with significant numbers of

adults present

BUT Evidence of re-

establishment across the catchment

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Numbers of adults

beginning to increase

Numbers of adults still decreasing

Increases in juveniles and

seedlings across the

catchment warn of potential

rapid increase coming

Putting it in Action – Tackling Weeds

Putting it in Action – Tackling WeedsWorking with Indigenous Ranger crews on weed management:

Provides opportunity for indigenous participationBuilds a practical skill baseBuilds stronger relationships between pastoralists and the indigenous community

And it can have an unmeasurable impact on self-esteem, confidence and pride.

Bringing it all together – Tackling Weeds

Building towards an entire region under active and strategic management :

2008 – Georgina Catchment (3.5m ha)

2010 – Lake Woods Catchment (1.8mha)

2010 – Lake Tarrabool Catchment (2.6m ha)

2011 – Lake Sylvester Catchment (3.4m ha)

Putting it in Action – Alternative GrazingHow can we make productivity gains AND improve land condition and conservation

values at the same time?

Future Challenges and Opportunities

For Barkly Landcare, the Barkly region and our landscape: Resource reliability and working beyond the political reality of government investment cycles Building our organisation through succession planning and growth management – being cleaver about how we access the people, skills and knowledge we need to get things done Remaining relevant (to members, community, industry and investors) in an environment of rapid change Increasing global pressures such as climate change, volatile markets, food security, economic instability – and finding the opportunities to innovate within these challenges Providing a platform for innovation at grass roots levelWorking with science and scientists

But the big one for me is our thinking

Naomi Wilson

Barkly Landcare & Conservation Association

www.barklylandcare.org.au