The Bugle - 02 March 2007
In news this week
- Moving positions within CHRRUP
- SEQ Science Coordination Network
- Scientists and land managers converge at forum
Government updates
- Money to combat weeds available
- Web sites for NRM grants and assistance
- QFF holding an Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture Forum on 18 April
Reef Plan updates
Natural resources news
- Scientists travel back 50 million years to understand climate change
- Grim summer report for nation's agriculture
- Australia's agriculture moves to a positive outlook
- Call for water-related papers for the 2007 Queensland Landcare Conference
- New keynotes announced for Landcare Conference
- National training meeting for NRM professionals in Hobart
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group news
Moving positions within CHRRUP
The Burdekin Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management (BDTNRM) and Central Highlands Regional Resources Use Planning (CHRRUP) on-ground incentives program in the Belyando Suttor catchment has a new field officer.
The previous field officer, Anna Keetels was recently appointed executive officer of CHRRUP.
Bronwyn Roberts replaced Anna on 19 February. Bronwyn is well known by the cattle and cropping industries in central Queensland as she grew up in Emerald and has worked on her family's properties and worked for Elders in Emerald since 2004. She also has a long history with the Emerald Saleyards, completing her traineeship with Emerald Peak Downs Saleyards Board in 2003 and working as the assistant superintendent until moving to Elders.
For more information, contact CHRRUP on 4982 2996.
SEQ Science Coordination Network
Developing collaborative applied research programs to address on-ground NRM issues and sharing the knowledge gained is the aim of the SEQ Science Coordination Network who recently met on the Gold Coast. Thirty-two participants from a wide range of research centres and other organisations presented information on their research, skills and potential for collaborations.
Five issues requiring further research were identified including; terrestrial biodiversity condition; climate change; land use change in peri-urban zone; coastal groundwater management; and raising community involvement with new residents.
Working groups were created to develop project briefs in these five specific research areas. The aim of each of these projects is to be achievable in 12- to 18-months, be low cost (funded from existing resources), multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional and preferably be a demonstration or pilot study.
Members of the SEQ Science Coordination Network include regional bodies, government, universities and research organisations.
For further information email Kay Montgomery of SEQ Catchments or phone 3816 9714.
Scientists and land managers converge at forum
More than 150 land managers and scientists descended on Hervey Bay for the Farmland to Fraser – Resource Managers and Science Symposium on 19-20 February. Hosted by the Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management Inc., the Symposium aimed to bring scientists and resource managers together.
Over 39 speakers gave presentations, including a keynote address by Queensland Farmers’ Federation Chief Executive Officer, John Cherry, in which he explained QFFs commitment to sustainable agriculture and industry needs in adapting to climate change.
John said "Queensland’s farming sector has a long record of adapting to changes in technological, economic and environmental challenges. We want to ensure that any government policy response to climate change assists industry in recognizing and responding to threats from climate change, as well as identifying and maximizing opportunities.
"Research shows that agriculture and tourism will be the two sectors most adversely affected by climate change and government, industry and the community need to start working together to prepare for that challenge."
Other topics at the Symposium included biological control for cat’s claw creeper; improving the quality of water leaving sugarcane lands; agro-forestry reducing salinity; saving endangered Mary River species; and responsible use of pesticides and sustainable crop protection.
As part of the Symposium, delegates were also given the opportunity to attend a field trip around the region; showcasing local farms which are using science to assist in water recycling, reuse and irrigation techniques.
Ashton Berry, Symposium Coordinator, said "The Symposium was a great success, providing delegates the opportunity to access a wide range of scientific information, and fantastic networking opportunities for the scientific and natural resource management community".
Government updates
Money to combat weeds available
The Australian Government will make $1.5 million available to communities and researchers to combat weeds.
Researchers and community groups are being encouraged to develop project proposals under the latest round of the Australian Government's Defeating the Weed Menace program.
Government departments are works closely with the research community to make sure the latest and best science is available for the fight against weeds.
The Australian Government sees research and development as an important component of its $44.4 million Defeating the Weed Menace program and $5.4 million is directly allocated to research and development.
This is the second call for research and development projects
For information visit the Defeating the Weed Menace Programme website.
Websites for NRM grants and assistance
The Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) has developed a new bank of information about financial assistance, advice and resources available to councils in the area of NRM which is similar to the Queensland's database of incentives.
Like the Queensland incentives web site, LGAT have developed web pages listing current and future sources of NRM project funding, including many national grants programs.
The web pages also contain links to documents containing case studies and guidance on various aspects of best practice NRM and other areas of environmental management. The LGAT's new NRM incentives web pages can be viewed on LGAT website.
There are several web-based search engines land managers and community groups can use to find financial assistance for NRM projects in Queensland.
In Queensland the regional NRM web site has a database of incentives, developed to encourage Queensland land managers, community groups and regional NRM groups undertake NRM activities. Additionally, the Queensland Government grants site lists several online locations you can visit to find a grant. Grants Connect (an Environmental Protection Agency site) provides a brief overview of funding sources for environmental management projects.
The Australian Government also have online information on grants and assistance packages available. These can be on the following web sites:
- Department of the Environment and Water Resources
- Envirofund
- Water Fund website- provides grants to help local communities promote the wise use of water.
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
QFF holding an Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture Forum on 18 April
Queensland Farmers Federation is conducting a forum which will highlight the current issues impacting intensive primary industries and will provide potential solutions for a strategic and coordinated approach to sustainable agriculture in Queensland.
The Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture Forum is sponsored by Land and Water Australia and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. It will be held on 18 April from 8.30am to 5.00pm at Parliament House, Brisbane.
The Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin will officially open the forum.
The program for the forum will cover:
- Backing good farming practices – the tools, activities and partnerships that are working well in assisting the uptake of good farming practices.
- Regional planning and farming – the role of local government in regional planning and successful primary production.
- Water for climate change – what climate change means for water planning and management nationally and in Queensland.
Initial registrations of interest can be directed by email to QFF's Nick Kennedy.
Reef Plan updates
Satellite shows water pollutants are carried out to the Great Barrier Reef
CSIRO scientists have found pesticides, herbicides and other micropollutants can travel up to 135km offshore and affecting more of the Great Barrier Reef than originally thought.
CSIRO scientists previously believed that sediment plumes, which can contain pollutants from river systems, affected only the inner Great Barrier Reef Lagoon and the inner reef corals.
However the new images, taken by NASA's Modis satellite by GeoScience Australia's Alice Springs site during the heavy rains in far north Queensland between February 9-13, show they are travelling much further offshore.
The images show floodwaters carrying a larger sediment load than during regular rainfall and river flow and CSIRO scientist Arnold Dekker said the images would change the way scientists analysed reef pollution and they show land care practices need to be improved to save the reef from destruction.
"This is the first time it's been really proven that this is a phenomenon that we need to start incorporating into our studies of how we manage the land and what flows from the land, and how it affects the reef," Mr Dekker said.
The Australian and Queensland Governments already have in place the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) a joint initiative with a goal to halt and then reverse the decline in water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef within 10 years.
Visit the Reef Plan website to learn more.
Natural Resources news
Scientists travel back 50 million years to understand climate change
Dr Patrick Moss is a University of Queensland researcher who is unearthing what the world's climate was like 50 million years ago.
Dr Moss, a lecturer in physical geography, has been gaining an insight into what might happen if the Earth's temperatures continue to increase, through his research into the way plants respond to warmer temperatures.
Dr Moss's research has focused on a particular area of western Canada, chosen because it has well-preserved fossil plants and insects as well as being at a similar latitude now as it was 50 million years ago, making it perfect for comparison with today's environment.
The fossilised leaves, insects and pollen from Canada are revealing a vastly different landscape to that of today. Dr Moss said "50 million years ago western Canada was a sub-tropical rainforest… We are finding evidence of palms as well as a mix of oak and redwood forests…Compared to 50-million-years-ago, our present climate is generally characterised as being much cooler and dryer…But now we are observing very rapid environmental change towards a warmer climate, with greater extremes in precipitation."
From his research Dr Moss’s suggests "because of these increases in temperatures we will see some extinction events of plants over time."
Dr Moss will be returning to Canada in June this year to collect further samples and expand on his research.
Grim summer report for nation's agriculture
We are now seeing the worst summer crop level in 20 years as the drought worsens throughout the country. A recent report by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) predicts that crop levels will drop 59 percent, after the severe winter season. Harvests from water intensive crops such as cotton and rice are set to fall significantly to the smallest harvest since 1982-83. While overall wheat production has recorded a decline to 9.8 million tonnes and barley has fallen 62 percent to 3.7 million tonnes.
ABARE predicts a massive 90 percent plummet in rice production to 106,000 tonnes while cotton will fall by 42 percent to just 250,000 tonnes. The ABARE report also found cotton and rice growers are abandoning large portions of farming land in an attempt to maximize production in smaller areas with the water available for irrigation.
Sorghum has also suffered due to below average rainfall over the December and January period resulting in a 52 percent fall in the production area over the previous year. One exception is central Queensland, which has recorded above average rainfall throughout the region.
However, extended forecasts predict an above average rainfall across Australia's major agricultural areas which could, as stated by the Rabobank report (see article below) significantly lift Australia's level of agricultural output.
Australia’s agriculture moves to a positive outlook
The Australian Agriculture in Focus report released by the agricultural financial bank Rabobank, found despite increasing pressures from drought conditions, the agricultural industry is set to prosper if rain levels return to normal this year.
While the report acknowledges that the majority of Australian agricultural industries have started 2007 in severe drought conditions, it is optimistic if rain levels increase, Australia will record a profitable agricultural cycle.
The report indicates in 2007 like 2006, climatic conditions are a key factor in the prosperity of Australia's agricultural industry and will determine the prospects over the 2007 cycle. For many agricultural sectors, the March/April period will determine the success of 2007.
Bill Cordingley, head of Food & Agribusiness Research for Rabobank Australia and New Zealand, says a decent autumn break, and typical rainfall patterns thereafter, would enable production levels in the cropping sector to recover quickly, with the potential to return to a normal harvest by the end of 2007.
On the grounds of continual and stable global economic growth, the Rabobank report has expressed confidence in growing demand for agricultural goods. Mr Cordingley said high oil prices, rising interest rates and various localised factors will moderate global growth to some degree, the World Bank's forecast of 3.2 per cent global GDP growth remains above the long-term average.
The full report can be viewed on the Rabobank website.
Call for water-related papers for the 2007 Queensland Landcare Conference
Hosts of the 2007 Queensland Landcare Conference, Pioneer Catchment and Landcare, are calling for papers on issues related to water (water quality, water management) and biodiversity.
Presentations at the conference will take place in one of two plenary or concurrent sessions and will be between 10 to 20 minutes in length.
There are several available presentation slots at this time and interested parties should email Margaret Lane by 15 March.
Further information about the conference is available from the Landcare Queensland website.
New keynotes announced for Landcare Conference
Pioneer Catchment and Landcare have announced two outstanding women will be keynote speakers for the 18th annual Queensland Landcare Conference.
Bobbie Brazil, Chairman of the Australian Landcare Council will share her visions for the future, as well as addressing key challenges and successes of the Landcare movement within Queensland and nationally.
The second speaker is Kim McKay the co-founder of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World. Kim, an author and marketing expert, is on the steering committee of the Business Leader’s Forum on Sustainable Development, the Board of the Centre for Australian and New Zealand studies at Georgetown University (Washington DC) and an advisory board member of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Additional information about these speakers is available on the Landcare Queensland website.
Registrations for the conference opens in April and further details are available by emailing Landcare Queensland or phoning 3211 4413.
National training meeting for NRM professionals in Hobart
Professionals working in natural resource management or agricultural programs are invited to participate in a national training workshop to be held at Rydges North Hobart, from March 29-30.
The workshop, supported by the National Landcare Programme and the Australasia Pacific Extension Network, will showcase options for extension and engagement programs to integrate NRM and production in current extension and engagement programs.
Recent research suggests low levels of integration in extension programs decreases the uptake of change on farm. Rural Development Services will present the findings of its research on this topic, highlight three 'best practice' case studies and outline how a conscious integration of environmental and production information can lead to an increase in the adoption of new strategies by the target audience.
Rural Development Services will launch a checklist for NRM and production extensionists to assess the current levels of integration within their program and identify opportunities to improve the uptake of their services. Participants will have an opportunity to review their current projects and plan a new project, applying the principles learned during the workshop.
Registration is $590 (+GST) which includes APEN membership, a draft workshop agenda can be accessed from the Rural Development Services website.
Get a job in NRM!
Are you interested in working with Queensland's regional natural resource management bodies? Then head to the Regional Groups' Collective website where current job opportunities are now available. Be sure to check back regularly to ensure you don't miss out on the job of a lifetime!
Here's a sample of what's on offer:
Queensland Murray-Darling Committee
The Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) is seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals to be part of a Natural Resource Management (NRM) team in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin. Two positions are available:
- Catchment Team Coordinator (Roma)
- Regional Coordinator, Water & River Management
Thought for the week
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.
Greek philosopher Epictetus (c. AD 60–100)
***
We welcome your contributions and feedback. If you have any comments or suggestions for The Bugle please contact Carl Glen or Shona Strachan.
View past issues of the Bugle.
The Bugle is a weekly newsletter published by Community Partnerships, the Department of Natural Resources and Water, highlighting regional NRM activities around Queensland.
Last updated 10 January 2008