Graziers and environment winners in wetland recovery

NSW DPI conservation manager, Simon Speirs, examines the sedge plants, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis, he found growing in the Gwydir wetlands.

Primary producers are set to benefit from a new project which aims to achieve long-term management solutions for agriculture and the environment in the iconic Macquarie Marshes and Gwydir Wetlands.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Grazing in Wetlands project officer, Steffan Holmes, said the NSW Wetland Recovery Program was seeking input from local farmers to develop best management practice (BMP) guidelines for grazing in wetland areas.

“We recognise that grazing in these areas is a long-established practice and with prolonged drought and increasing concerns over water, primary producers are seeking answers about longterm water availability,” Mr Holmes said.

“We want to determine how best to manage these areas so they remain as environmental and financial resources in the future.

“It’s important to the success of the project that we understand what is currently happening by speaking to people who currently use and manage wetland areas.”

According to Mr Holmes, once current practices and issues impacting on grazing in wetlands are identified, the next step will be to provide access to resources and training to benefit wetland areas.

NSW DPI conservation management officer, Harry Rose, inspects water couch plants, Paspalum distichum, a key species for grazing and water birds in the Macquarie Marshes.

“We aim to work with primary producers to increase their flexibility in using wetlands and promote their environmental credentials,” he said.

“Management of the invasive weed, lippia, has been identified as a major focus of the NSW Wetland Recovery Program which will benefit both agriculture and the environment.”

Mr Holmes said it was important to recognize the contribution landholders make to the environmental health of wetlands and their ability to make decisions on grazing management.

“We are also asking producers to identify their training needs so we can tailor programs such as NSW DPI’s ProGraze® and Paddock plants to meet their needs.”

Landholders participating in the Grazing in Wetlands BMP project will have access to subsidised training.

NSW Wetland Recovery Program is funded by the NSW Government and the Australian Government’s Water Smart Australia.

Graziers can contact Steffan Holmes, 0428 961 671, to find out more about the project.

Digital images available from bernadette.york@dpi.nsw.gov.au .