Current Projects
Project 1: "Building Resilient People, Ecosystems and Agricultural Communities"
Funded by: This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government's Caring for our Country.
Funding: $297,807 Total Project Value: $733,481
Project Description: “Resilient People, Ecosystems and Agriculture” is specifically designed for the needs of landholders. Providing training & demonstration to the Little River Catchment using an engagement model designed for a targeted demographic and to establish focus sites for demonstration in “Climate Change Grazing Systems” for carbon positive grazing systems.
Project Components:
1. A training program titled "Positive Farming Footprints" will deliver specific training in the area of building resilient farm familiy businesses that are skilled to manage for climate change. This package will be delivered to 20 primary production businesses & their families over a period of 2 years. These buinesses will recieve training in the areas of: building a resilient business, communication, coping with change, holistic thinking, land management units, soil biology, sustainable grazing systems, groundwater flow systems, biodiversity and effective monitoring and reporting.
2. A peer learning educational package. This will involve 4 field days open to the public on the following topics: Resilient Farming Businesses, Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes, Soil Biology & Alternative Systems and Sustainable Grazing Systems.
3. Focus sites & On-ground works. The experimental focus sites will engage the practical land management skills of participatory landholders. These focus sites will be used as demonstrative areas for landholders to observe the benefits of climate change grazing systems, ground cover, carbon enhancement and sustainable management. Wire and water projects will deliver 500 ha’s of well managed perennial grazing lands with long term outcomes (10 years).
This project will also include monthly newsletters, board development and the employment of a project officer and support staff.
This project is due for completion in September 2010 .
Project 2: "Summer Perennial Pastures - a response to climate variability"
Funded by: This project is supported by Little River Landcare, through funding from the Australian Government's Caring for our Country.
Funding: $131,450 Total Project Value: $247,795
Project Description: This project will educate & resourec landholders with management options that will increase their on-farm resilience to climate variability through the use & establishment of summer tropical species across the Little River Catchment in the CWCMA region in NSW. The groups aim is to establish 650 hectares of summer perennial pastures, increase organic carbon & reduce soil erosion over a 2 year period. Activities will include:
- Establish 550ha with perennial sub tropical summer grasses.
- Deliver a number of workshops to increase the understanding and skills of landmanagers
- Undertake soil testing & provide agronomic advice to land managers
This project is due for completion in September 2011
Project 3: "Adoption of conservation farming practices & increase in soil organic carbon through machinery conversions"
Funded by: This project is supported by Little River Landcare, through funding from the Australian Government's Caring for our Country.
Funding: $109,670 Total Project Value: $219,900
Project Description: This project aims to assist land managers to improve soil organic carbon levels through the conversion of machinery. This project will bring about a signifiant improvement in the condition & health of catchment soils through fostering an improved understanding of the relationship betwween land management practices & soil health in the CWCMA region of NSW.
Activities will include:
- Conduct 6 machinery conversions
- Take 60 soil tests to analyse carbon content
- Conduct a number of workshops on improving soil carbon & understanding soil tests.
This project is due for completion in September 2010.