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Conserving biological diversity is proving a strong attraction for farmers
taking part in initiatives under the State Government’s Salinity Action
Plan.
Conserving biological diversity is proving a strong attraction for farmers
taking part in initiatives under the State Government’s Salinity Action
Plan.
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today said that since the plan
was released last November, there had been a high degree of interest among
farmers to conserve remnant vegetation as wildlife Habitat and to incorporate
native species into tree crop programs.
"This reflects the integrated approach that is essential if we are to
develop on-farm commercial tree crops to gain the maximum economic, social
and environmental benefits that they offer," Mrs Edwardes said.
She said that over the next 10 years, CALM aimed to establish 150,000
hectares of maritime pines in partnership with farmers and other land owners.
"This aspect of the action plan alone means that from the year 2000,
somewhere in the order of 22.5 million maritime pines will be planted each
year in the intermediate rainfall zone.
"That’s 22.5 million new ‘pumps’ a year which will help lower water
tables and provide income to farmers over the 30 year rotation of the tree
crop," she said.
This year, CALM has redirected $3.3 million from within its own resources
towards the project. Under the action plan, CALM will increase its contribution
towards the maritime pine project to $18 million a year.
Mrs Edwardes said so far 40 farmers had entered sharefarming agreements
to plant 1,200ha under maritime pines.
As part of the project, these farmers would be given a range of native
species to plant. Some of these species had been bred by CALM for their
salt tolerance - including wandoo and river red gums - that could be used
in the lower parts of the landscape.
"Other species will offer potential high commercial returns," Mrs Edwardes
said.
"Among the most exciting of these is sandalwood that once occurred across
the Wheatbelt. Sandalwood is highly sought after in Asia for joss sticks.
It also is finding favour among woodcrafts people and has the potential
to be the basis of an essential oils extraction industry.
"An indication of the success of this aspect of the program is that
additional 200 hectares will be planted with these other species. This
area includes 55 hectares that will be planted with Acacia acuminata -
commonly known as raspberry jam - to act as a host for sandalwood seedlings
to be planted next winter.
"This other species component also will assist greatly in helping restore
the biological diversity of the landscape."
Mrs Edwardes today inspected a maritime pine plantation on the Kowald
family’s property north west of Katanning where this year 14 hectares of
maritime pines will be established under a sharefarming agreement with
CALM.
The Kowalds also are planting 3 hectares of raspberry jam. This area
will be planted with sandalwood next winter. The Kowalds intend to plant
a further 25 hectares of maritime pine and other areas to supplementary
species next winter.
Mrs Edwardes said the Government also had allocated $2.45 million in
new funding to CALM for projects in rural areas associated with biological
diversity. They included conservation of remnant vegetation, biological
surveys, wetland rehabilitation programs and the Land for Wildlife program.
"Land for Wildlife also is attracting strong interest among farmers,"
she said.
"In the first five months of the project, 20 farmers have set aside
an area of remnant vegetation totalling 2600 hectares primarily for nature
conservation - an area equal to Yanchep National Park."
Overall, nearly 100 farmers had expressed interest in being a
part of the scheme.
Land for Wildlife was a voluntary program that recognised the conservation
efforts of private landholders and managers and helped them do more to
conserve native plants and animals on their lands by protecting, expanding
or creating suitable habitat.
A benefit of the scheme was that it would greatly expand the overall
area in which native wildlife had suitable habitat from which they could
escape the ravages of introduced predators such as European foxes and feral
cats.
Mrs Edwardes said it was significant that owners of big and small properties
alike were expressing interest in the scheme and demonstrating their commitment
to multiple use land management.
"The smallest property so far visited is just 1.2ha and the biggest
is 12,000ha," she said.
"The areas nominated as Land for Wildlife sites range from
just 2000 square metres to 1,000 hectares.
"This diverse range shows that the scheme can apply across the board
and reflects the positive attitude of landholders that is essential to
nature conservation."
Some of the individual properties assessed had shown outstanding commitments
and progress in managing wildlife habitat, with individuals erecting around
50 km of fencing from their own resources and others hand pulling hectares
of weeds and specially planting areas to provide food and shelter for bandicoots.
Media contacts:
Ministerial: Diana Russell Coote (08) 9421 7777
CALM: Syd Shea (08) 9442 0325 |
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