Key Recommendations
Executive Summary
Key Recommendations
1 . Funding of landscape management programs includes extension , engagement and training components to foster practice change , in the immediate and longer terms .
• Graziers respond to activities where scientists , technical advisors and field officers are part of the discussion .
• Provide opportunities for one-on-one consultation , and for neighbour groups and like-minded practitioners to obtain regular technical support .
• Provide opportunities for newcomers to be “ safely ” introduced to new concepts and practices .
2 . Landscape scale planning should ideally be undertaken for gully project sites , where a wide range of tools and techniques can be applied to improve the ‘ whole ’ landscape , not just the erosion and gully features .
3 . The full remediation of severely-gullied sites is expensive and should be designed and supervised by professionals and highly experienced contractors to ensure successful long-term outcomes .
• Full remediation of sites should ideally only be undertaken when sufficient funds and resources are available .
While there was little observed , or measured , benefit of livestock exclusion when compared to planned grazing practices , achieving understanding and practical implementation by graziers , around the agreed ( planned grazing ) management principles , was critical .
4 . The “ biological carpeting ” approach should be further tested as a lower cost remediation option to establish vegetation cover on hostile soil sites , where animal welfare considerations can be satisfied .
5 . There is compelling justification for weed management and marsupial exclusion , in similar situations to the Strathalbyn Dunn ’ s paddock project site , to reduce marsupial impacts and to encourage natural regeneration of vegetative cover on erosion features .
6 . Even at high resolutions , LiDAR is unable to detect fine-scale erosion processes , such as hillslope erosion ( e . g . where processes are << 5 cm per year ). There is limited effectiveness in monitoring processes below this threshold , particularly across broad landscape areas .
• LiDAR survey data is most beneficial on bare ground surfaces or where vegetation cover is low so that a true ground signal can be detected . As a monitoring tool , it is likely to be most effective at detecting gully head retreat , sidewall erosion and channel erosion .
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