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