Nenyoftrkn^D*Af Qrm S T Qp Ffitngl, N^A,T-Wa Graa4t Rco*Yterrw
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NenyofTrkn^d*af QrM S t qp ffitngl, n^a,t-wa graa4t rco*yterrw J a,ruary -f el>r u^ary 20 O + ?rogra,m, 7 to 8 January - Tasmania Midlands Grasslands Tour - Its possibly not too late to join us for FOG's two-day trip to see Tasmanian grasslands. Louise Gilfedder, who was at the Third Native Grasses Conference, will be leading us. On the first day we shall put aside a couple of hours to talk about grassland conservation in Tasmania and the mainland. For more information, talk to Margaret (details back page). Saturday 22 F'ebruary,4pm - FOG's Annual General Meeting, Mugga Mugga Education Centre- Short but fun AGM followed by a traditional free barbecue @ring own drinks). This is an important arurual event for FOG to discuss its broad direction, elect a new committee, and to relax and enjoy the wonderful environs of Mugga. So please put this in your diary now. l,4e/dr"/W ro^P)uaL Margaret Ning I was really encouraged by the goodly numbers of renewals tlut carne in over the last couple of months, and I am daring to hope that similar nurnbers will send their renewals in response to this reminder. I find this time of the year a litfle daunting in respect of what needs to be done, and every prornptly-despatched renewal makes life much simpler for me, so please pop yours in the mail when you get a free moment. We have included another renewal slip for those who have not yet renewed so that you will know if this affects you - you don't need to go searching for your chequebook to check the stubs! We have kept fees to their current low levels: $20 for individuals and families, $50 for corporate tnetnbers and $5 con- cession for those on social security benefits. Donations are welcome as flre budget is tight. If you have any doubts about rejoining, remernber we need your support. Many thanks to all of you who have already sent in their renewal. Important vtottst Di Chambers, Vice President 2004 will be a challenge for Friends of Grasslands as Geoff Robertson and Marga- ret Ning have decided to pull back somewhat, although still rernain active mern- bers. Geoff will not renominate for President and Margaret wants to give up the responsibility for organising membership and activities. The committee has de- cided that it needs to find several people to take on a nurg,e of defined tasks and would like to hear from anyone who can assist in any way. Please contact me or Roger Farrow (details on back page) if you can be of any assistance. As another step, the committee decided that we should create a second vice president position while leaving the overall number of committee positions, including office holders, at sixteen. Hence the next notice to change the constitution. N odtuttc oha ger @n rtffi^f.,oav The committee proposes at the Annual General Meeting (22 February) to arnend the FOG constitution in Part III, Section 12, parts I and 2. to create a second vice president position and rnaintain the number of committee positions at 16. This will require amending: . (2)O) to read "two-vice presidents" and . (t)O) to read " I I ordinary committee members". Three of seven orchids seen on ,Sub- alpine weekend: A Bird Orchid, a Leek Orchid and a Golden Moth. N sr,u y of F r k*\d,y of C ra+land*, I atu,ary -f d>r uary 20 O +, ? age z trpw and,, TOG : Third, N atwe G ra*rc* Conde-ronr*t The Third National Native Grasses Catchment Management Board noted rates of salinisation, improve stream Conference: Sustainability and Beyond that in developing its programs the water qualities and lead to better man- held in Cooma on 26, 27 and 28 Nov- Board had endorsed the ideas put for- aged native grass pastures across a large vember was a gredt success. lle include ward by Mcleod and others tlut the area of NSW and north east Victoria. several reports. More the Land ir landscape management objective is "op- from Sustaining biodiversity in regional our next issue. timise productivity (for economic and landscapes social sustainability) without compro- tseVon^drSuata,tnahlty mising ecological sustainability, in- Wal Whalley argued that managing Aristida cluding the maintenance of a substantial grasslands for animal production is usu- portion of the flora and fauna." The ally contrasted with management for The conference began in Cooma on 26 Board is implementing the ideas put conservation outcomes but he suggested November with a series of visits to two forward by Mcleod and his colleagues. that the proper use of domestic arumals local properties and two travelling stock in grassland management can be entirely reserves. Requestfrom Sorah Sharpfor help: I consistent with conservation goals. He papers 27 presented The two days of began on am helping Mal Pryor (St Marks) to evidence concerning changes November with John Williams from get a team of people together to cut that may have occurred in the topsoil CSIRO making it clear that the problems during the last 200 years and the effects and collect Thenreda hay for laying in we face are: water extraction and water various areas that have been dis- of topsoil degradation. He suggested for river health land cleanng; biodiver- turbed (outside the St Mark's gross- that animal management for building loss; nutrient sity soil depletion; soil land) and areas that have been topsoil will enhance both animal pro- acidification, soil structure decline; soil grass- sprayed outfor weed control. It duction and the consewation of decline; and dryland and ir- biodiversity should take half a dav and we plan the lands - it would be based on using large rigation salinisation. numbers animals grazing activity on 7 Jonuary (ntorning), or of for short periods followed by long periods of rest. John was followed by Andrew Campbell thereabouts. A warning, you will get from Land and Water Australia who covered in hay. Can volunteers con- Nicky Bruce then spoke on the use of spoke of the need to manage whole tact me by e-nmil granng to maintain the grassland ele- landscapes, the need for farming sys- sara h. s h a r p(a)a ct. gov. a u. ment in Terrick Terrick NP in Victoria. tems which can be scaled up pretty She stressed the need for a flexible quickly and shut down instantly, and On-farm conscrvation in productive management approaclq managing for that our thinking needed to be governed systems heterogenei$ at a landscape scale to by the triple helix landscapes, life- grassland of George Taylor showed the benefits of a rnaintain mosaics and enable styles and livelihoods. Some the ses- of conservative stocking approach and the rapid on-ground responses to emerging sions are the subject of a brief summary use of native pastures over a period of problems. below. 35 years in the central west of NSW. Socio-economic aspects Regional landscape management Jann Williarns showed that the Land Water and Wool program was beginning Robyn Villiers Brown spoke on the Neil Mcleod from CSIRO began the to demonstrate that by documenting the changes in mind set tlnt are needed to session on regional landscape manage- management practices of woolgrowers, protect ecosystems and argued that al- providing ment by an exploration of the it could be shown that profitable enter- though we have come a long way in re- principles ecological design for sustain- prises and high levels of native biodiver- cent times we still have a long way to go able landscape rnanagement and some sity can go lund in lund. to convince people that some changes practical issues with applying them. are necessary and that further legislation Enhancing functionality may be required to reach this goal. Geoff Robertson said that unless we re- stored our ecosystems on a landscape Ken Hodgkinson began by pointing out fuchard Taylor asked whether profitable scale we faced further loss of biodiver- that native grasses are adapted to infer- agriculture and achieving good envi- sity and consequent problems, such as tile soils, drought tolerant, adapted to ronmental outcomes could sit together. salinity, poor soils and poor water out- fire, supplement a unique biota, tolerant He argued that for farmers to fully comes. of periodic grazing and insect herbivory maintain their resource base they needed Kerry Pfeiffer from the South East and provide significant ecosystem serv- to be economically viable. This means ices. He pointed out that grassland serv- being highly productive. which in his Iwthi* i,t*t^P/ ices include rvater filtration, pest control, environment at least, is not compatible waste assirnilation and the prevention of with maintenance of the nahral ecosys- o Sfrpa and FOG Third Native soil erosion. He thought that dysfunc- tem. He did say that the low value agri- Grasses Conference tional landscapes are'lealcy' and scarce cultural land could be converted to con- . News roundup resources are easily lost. He wanted servation. Plains-wanderer :habitat man more thought to be given to targeting agement maintenance of grassy ecosystems and A reflection o Fascination with a Magniftcent to getting the market signals right. I think that we have some way to go to Spider Meredith Mitchell spoke about a project get the population at large to recognise o Austral Bears-ear; a native whose long term outcome is to lower the value of biodiversity for its own sake 'broad-leaf' N svt v of F r kldt of C ra,ula*td*, J a,nt ary -f ebr uary 20 O +, ? a4en and for its provision of ecosystem sew- booklet.