Herding Change Through Grassroots Recovery project wraps up with major event
This year graziers completed a three-year project implementing land management changes to maintain end-of-dry-season groundcover and reduce erosion and fine sediment run-off on properties in the Coastal , Upper and East Burdekin regions .
The project involved 75 sites and more than 360,000 hectares of management practice change .
To mark completion of the project , a group of participants attended a soil health workshop with internationally renowned soil ecologist Dr Christine Jones , visited the Australian Institute of Marine Science ( AIMS ) and enjoyed a group dinner at the Townsville Yacht Club .
“ Being involved in the project has improved my understanding about runoff of fine sediment to the reef , through how agricultural land is managed , and impacts of major natural events on ecosystems .
“ There ’ s a direct link between how agricultural land is managed , natural events and water quality .
“ Listening to the scientists , it ’ s clear water monitoring is complex and it takes time for the on-ground work to show up in the results .
“ I ’ m confident the grazing industry is taking steps in the right direction .”
GRAZIER BERNADETTE EASTON
NQ Dry Tropics Senior Project Officer and event organiser , Angus Hogg , said the project supported graziers to undertake a wide range of activities to improve land management practices to help maximise pasture cover and reduce sediment runoff into local waterways .
He said linking graziers with experts like Dr Jones and scientists at AIMS , were key to this .
“ To help graziers implement benchmarked grazing practices for improved water quality , it ’ s been important to offer a wide range of training , educational and knowledge sharing events ,” Angus said .
Graziers Eric and Charlie Le Feuvre inspecting one of the large seawater tanks at the AIMS SeaSim .
NQ DRY TROPICS | YEAR IN REVIEW 2023-24
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