The Bugle - 23 November
In news this week
- New fact sheets now available on the regional NRM website
- Steve's turtle needs your help
- Weevil pools breed weapon against weed
- They saw only three sawfish in SGC
Government updates
- Understanding government policy can help regional NRM bodies
- Improving the management of natural resources through stakeholder analysis
- Vegetation Incentives Program receives high commendations
- Hinterland creek named after native fauna
- Latest figures highlight value of Queensland's primary industries
Reef updates
Natural resources news
Regional NRM group stories
New fact sheets now available on the regional NRM website
Regional NRM planning relies on understanding people and how they connect with their environment. Evaluating social and economic impacts of NRM can be challenging due to the number and complexity of factors involved. Thoughtful planning and adequate time and resources are crucial for practical and affordable evaluation.
It is however possible to create a regional social and economic profile that describes the circumstances in which your NRM activity operates. This will provide a baseline for comparing the effects of a NRM activity and allows the identification of the characteristics that are important in monitoring changes in the region.
Identifing the social and economic indicators that best measure the impact of an NRM activity is extremely useful. Indicators are characteristics that can be seen, counted, or measured. They act as a 'barometer' for the complex conditions being monitored.
For example, farm debt-to-equity ratio may indicate the ability of a farm to undertake NRM activities. Once the most appropriate indicators are selected, it is possible to predict how the activity will influence these indicators. Because indicators are based on data, the level of performance can be set to what is expected to be achieved.
Monitoring against the selected indicators should help to keep track of changes in the region over time. This can be integrated with new information into a monitoring and evaluation strategy continuously throughout the lifetime of the activity, not just at the end of the process.
For more information visit the regional NRM website.
Steve’s turtle needs your help
Crikey! The Elseya irwini is a rare turtle named after the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin and his father Bob, who caught one on a fishing line during a family camping trip in 1990. Steve took pictures of the turtle and sent them to world renowned turtle enthusiast John Cann, who identified it as a new species and named it E. irwini in 1997.
Ecologist Dr Ivan Lawler started researching Irwin's turtle in 2004. After spending a year looking for it, Lawler and his team from James Cook University's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences conducted a pilot study in 2006 and have been working hard to learn more about this rare species ever since.
So far only two nests have been found.
Its yellow head and pink nose make Irwin's turtle a curious looking creature and it has a very strange and somewhat unusual breathing mechanism, even in the turtle world. Irwin's turtle can breathe underwater by taking water into its cloacae, where it has a chamber with gill-like structures to extract oxygen. This enables the turtle to stay underwater for long periods without taking a breath.
Dr Lawler's research has found that Irwin’s turtle is in decline. Their research indicates that 93% of the turtles are adults. If the population is flourishing there should be lots of young turtles and few adults, but the study found quite the opposite. Dr Lawler is now looking for the turtle's nesting sites so they can be protected and the species can be given a chance at survival.
Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM (BDTNRM) is funding tracking equipment to help Dr Lawler and his team study Irwin's turtle more closely. Dr. Lawler is optimistic that Irwin's turtle can be protected with the help of land managers and agencies such as BDTNRM because once the nesting sites are identified BDTNRM can work with land managers to help them protect the sites and the turtles. Dr Lawler is also optimistic that with multi-agency funding the project will proceed long enough for us to gain a thorough understanding of this rare river dweller.
For more information contact Bronwyn Houlden, Biodiversity Programme coordinator, on 07 4724 3544.
Weevil pools breed weapon against weed
Four new bio-control pools set up in Yeppoon by the Livingstone Shire Council will breed a weevil to help control regional outbreaks of salvinia, a weed choking central Queensland waterways.
Establishing the facility was a collaborative effort between the council, the Capricorn Pest Management Group, and Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA), who contributed $19 000.
FBA water quality coordinator Nathan Johnston said salvinia spreads fast, can double in size every two to three days and seriously impacts on the flow and health of regional waterways.
Salvina develops thick mats across the surface of the water that can choke waterways, pollute drinking water, block irrigation channels and cause flooding. The best weapon against this invasive weed is the salvinia weevil, which has proven effective at reducing infestations in central Queensland in the past.
Mr Johnston said previously the weevil had to be transported to the region when outbreaks of salvinia were discovered. Having a local breeding facility means we have quick and easy access to the weevil, and it also removes any hygiene concerns associated with transferring the weevil from another area.
For more information email Nathan Johnston, Fitroy Basin Association.
They saw only three sawfish in SGC
Southern Gulf Catchments (SGC) is committed to researching sawfish in the Southern Gulf region.
For the last two weeks of September, SGC project officer Matthew Vickers and Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries (DPI&F) biologist Stirling Peverell travelled throughout the Southern Gulf region in search of the freshwater sawfish.
The field trip was done to validate historic records of distribution in the region and to update current records. Historic records of freshwater sawfish indicate the species was once distributed as far inland as Richmond.
Matthew said he wanted to hear from anyone seeing a sawfish to build on their records. Their research indicates freshwater sawfish numbers and range have declined and they want to know how large the remaining population is.
The survey was conducted on eight stations and they caught three immature freshwater sawfish, one in the Nicholson River and two in the Leichhardt River. Two sawfish were double tagged as they were injected with oxytetracycline (OTC) an antibiotic used in the marking of vertebrae.
This is a common age and growth validation technique. Anyone finding a double tagged sawfish should email Matthew Vickers or call on 4743 1888.
As part of the component of the sawfish project to facilitate community education and awareness. Matt and Stirling visited schools at Julia Creek and Gregory. The children were spellbound by the sawfish props which included a life size cast of a sawfish and several very large rostrums.
A post wet season survey is planned for the Southern Gulf region in 2008. This will coincide with the DPIF, Marine Education Society of Australasia and NRM bodies’ launch of a sawfish educational program for Queensland schools in March 2008.
For more information email Matthew Vickers or call 07 4743 1888.
Government updates
Understanding government policy can help regional NRM bodies
Understanding the impact of federal and state government policies can help regional NRM bodies with all stages of natural asset management, from planning and prioritising investment through to understanding duties of care.
Through the regional NRM planning and implantation process, the Australian, state and territory governments have developed a policy framework that gives regional communities a significant degree of responsibility for NRM.
There is a new fact sheet available on the regional NRM website, which highlights some of the main policies that influence social and economic factors associated with NRM in an effort to support effective regional natural resource planning.
The main federal legislation influencing regional NRM planning is the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Australian Government policies to protect and improve the condition of land, water (including groundwater) and vegetation resources that underpin our natural ecosystems and productive agricultural industries include the National Weeds Strategy, Weeds of National Significance, and the National Water Quality Management Strategy. These represent a small selection of the range of policies that make up the NRM policy framework.
For more information on government policies affecting regional NRM visit the regional NRM website or phone Daniel Franks on 3224 7741.
Improving the management of natural resources through stakeholder analysis
For natural resources to be managed as effectively as possible, regional NRM bodies have developed partnerships with individuals and groups that have a stake in the future of the region’s natural resources.
These stakeholders can be people who rely on the land for their livelihood, protect the land, manage the land, or simply care about the welfare of the land.
Stakeholders are most commonly categorised according to their sectors or activities, they may be landowners (graziers, cotton farmers); community organisations (schools, churches); or conservation groups.
By analysing stakeholders early on in a project or activity, you can ensure that the resources available for developing and maintaining these partnerships are used as efficiently as possible.
Stakeholder analysis is useful at all stages of NRM, from planning and prioritising investments through to incentive programs, monitoring and evaluating. A full stakeholder analysis is necessary when the risks or gains are significant.
Understanding your stakeholders, their attitudes, awareness levels and skill levels may require you to collect existing information, especially economic information, from various community profiles. You may then need to source information on the region’s history and geography, production systems, social groupings, networks and relationships. If this information is not documented, you may need to compile it yourself, but while this may take more time initially it will still save you time and resources in the long term.
Most projects require some understanding of stakeholders. Wherever people are involved, stakeholder analysis adds value to your activities. Stakeholder analysis helps to determine who to work with first, how to prioritise resources and how to match the most effective incentives with various stakeholders.
For more information or assistance on stakeholder management visit the regional NRM website or contact the Social and Economic Unit of Community Partnerships on 07 3224 7741.
Vegetation Incentives Program receives high commendations
The Department of Natural Resources and Waters' (NRW) Vegetation Incentives Program and Environmental Partnerships Scheme were highly commended at this year's Premier's Awards for Excellence in Public Sector Management, in the Sustainable Environment category.
The team was recognised for their work on the state wide delivery of the $150 million Vegetation Management Financial Assistance and Environmental Incentives packages. These packages provided assistance to landholders affected by the end of broadscale land clearing in Queensland.
The Premier's Awards are widely recognised as showcasing the best work being done by Queensland Government employees and this year’s awards were strongly contested with 110 nominations received.
NRW also had two other teams that were finalists at the awards.
The statewide Rural Water Use Efficiency Initiative, a partnership between rural industries and the state government to improve the management and use of water on farms, has saved more than 152 000 mega litres annually.
The Home and Garden WaterWise rebate schemes, which have helped south east Queenslanders to do their bit during the worst drought on record, was also a finalist.
For more information about any of these programs visit the NRW website.
Hinterland creek named after native fauna
A creek at Mapleton in the Sunshine Coast hinterland has been officially named after short-beaked echidnas that live in the area.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said his department had been approached by Maroochy Water Watch Inc. to officially name the waterway.
The proposal to officially name the creek was put forward in 2000, when a group of local residents met to discuss a grant to rehabilitate and revegetate the degraded stream. The grant application was successful and in 2001, more than 18 000 trees were planted as part of the Healthy Waterways Project. After a two-month public consultation process, there was unanimous support for the name Echidna Creek.
Echidna Creek is a well-defined water course, running for about 3.5 kilometres from its headwaters on the eastern side of the Blackall Range. The creek eventually joins with the South Maroochy River.
Echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), or spiny ant eaters as they are sometimes known, are familiar to most Australians. They are one of only three monotreme species, or egg-laying mammals, in the world.
The Department of Natural Resources and Water administers the Place Names Act 1994, which officially controls the naming of localities, suburbs and geographical features in local government areas.
Visit NRW website to learn more.
Latest figures highlight value of Queensland's primary industries
A new report released this week forecasts an increase in the value of many of Queensland's primary industry production and processing sectors.
Queensland's primary industry production and agricultural processing sectors are forecast to contribute $12.235 billion to the state's economy in 2007-08.
The farm gate value of Queensland's primary industry commodities is forecast at $9.425 billion in 2007-08, two per cent higher than 2006-07, and the value of first-stage processing of agricultural commodities is forecast at $2.81 billion.
The 2007-08 prospects release signifies a slight change to methodology with some products and services, for instance in lifestyle horticulture and forestry, switched from the farm gate or GVP total to first-stage processing.
At the farm gate, many industries are expected to post higher gross values in 2007-08 than the previous year including Queensland's livestock industries; fruits such as bananas, pineapples, mandarins, strawberries and apples; tomatoes; cereal grains, such as wheat, barley, grain sorghum and maize; forestry and logging; and fisheries.
Queensland's cattle and calf industry continues to be the state's largest primary industry with a forecast gross value of production of $3.73 billion in 2007-08, which accounts for almost 40 per cent of our total farm gate commodities.
Falls are expected in gross values of sugar cane, cotton, mangoes, avocados, macadamias, capsicums and cut flowers.
While sugar cane production in Queensland in 2007-08 is forecast to fall by three per cent, the gross value of Queensland's sugarcane production is now forecast at $730 million in 2007-08, 32 per cent lower than 2006-07, due to a fall in world sugar prices and a strong Australian dollar.
Further information can be found in the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' (DPI&F) publication, Prospects for Queensland's Primary Industries (Prospects).
Reef updates
New fertiliser management tool to help save Reef
Queensland Government scientists are developing a computer program called 'SafeGauge for Nutrients' as a new tool to help land managers minimise the risk of fertiliser run-off into coastal water catchments.
Landholders and industry have made great progress in adopting sustainable land management practices, however, some agricultural practices have affected water quality in the Great Barrier Reef catchments.
For example, using too much fertiliser on crops can harm the environment when nutrients find their way into estuaries and inner-shore reefs as run-off after seasonal storms. These extra nutrients can damage coral reefs.
The computer program assessed the risk of off-site movement of nitrogen and phosphorus from a crop block. Off-site movement includes loss of nutrients in surface water, or leaching of nutrients to groundwater in well-drained soils.
To use this program, the land manager locates the crop block on a map of Queensland using a zoom tool that shows individual property boundaries. They then enter information about fertiliser type, rate, placement and time of application, and this is linked to soils information and annual rainfall for that particular block.
The SafeGauge progam then assesses the risk of nutrient loss. The program does not give fertiliser recommendations, such as how much to use, but it allows the land manager to see how changing fertiliser management practices affect nutrient loss.
Scientists expect the product will be available for use by growers in late 2008.
For the full media statement visit the Queensland Government's media statements.
Natural resources news
New top end weed and plant collecting manual
A new weed and plant collecting manual has been produced by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), the Indigenous Land Corporation and the Weeds CRC. The manual was designed as a resource for indigenous ranger groups and communities contracted by AQIS to collect plant and weed samples.
The Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS), a division of AQIS, surveys remote areas of Australia's north coast to look for pests, weeds and diseases that may have arrived from other countries. These surveys are carried out by NAQS scientists, with help and guidance from local community members.
The Weeds CRC in conjunction with the Indigenous Land Corporation have supported this project with AQIS to promote weed awareness in the Aboriginal communities of Northern Australia.
To view a copy of these new publications visit the Weeds CRC 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:
Regional body: Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM
Title: Finance Clerk
Salary range: The salary is in the range of $45 000 to $53 000
Location:Townsville
Closing date: COB 3 December 2007
You can contact your potential new manager, Orlanda on 4724 3544 for more information.
Thought for the week
Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.
French-Italian-Polish poet Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)
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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 04 December 2007