A Conference on Restoring Ecological Processes, Ecosystems and Landscapes in a Changing World 5-9 February 2017, Armidale NSW Australia CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS www.conferencecompany.com.au/revegconf2017 These conference proceedings are published by Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science at the University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351. The papers contained within these proceedings were presented during Restore, Regenerate, Revegetate: A Conference on Restoring Ecological Processes, Ecosystems and Landscapes in a Changing World, held at the University of New England from 5–9 February 2017. The views and interpretations expressed in these papers are those of the authors of the papers published in these proceedings and do not represent the views of the Editor, the Conference Organising Committee or the University of New England. Whilst papers were subjected to review by at least two anonymous reviewers, accuracy of information and the content of papers remains the responsibility of the authors. Copyright remains with the authors. Papers may be reproduced in part or whole with permission from the authors and appropriate citation of these proceedings. Citation These proceedings may be cited as: Smith, R. (editor) (2018) Proceedings of Restore, Regenerate, Revegetate: A Conference on Restoring Ecological Processes, Ecosystems and Landscapes in a Changing World. Held at the University of New England, Armidale, from 5–9 February 2017 (Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia). Available at: https://www.une.edu.au/about-une/academic-schools/school-of-environmental-and-rural-science/ers- news-and-events/restore-regenerate-revegetate-conference-2017 ISBN: 978-1-921 597-76-3 Acknowledgements The editor would like to thank the authors and reviewers of the papers published in these proceedings, the Conference Organising Committee and the delegates that attended the conference and made it so successful. Editor’s contact details Rhiannon Smith, Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale NSW, Australia 2351. email: [email protected], phone: (02) 6773 3297. © The Authors February 2018 Restore, Regenerate, Revegetate A Conference on Restoring Ecological processes, Ecosystems and landscapes in a Changing World Proceedings of the Conference Armidale, New South Wales February 2018 Conference Sponsors Platinum Sponsor Silver Sponsors Plenary Session Sponsor Symposium Sponsors Official Travel Program Book Refreshment Break Sponsor Sponsor Sponsor Post-Conference Excursion Sponsor Prizes and Donations General Supporters ii Restore, Regenerate, Revegetate Conference Proceedings, February 2018 Foreword The sustainable management and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems has never been more important and challenging, given humankind’s growing reach throughout the biosphere and the resulting accelerating changes from local to global level. In February 2017, Restore, Regenerate, Revegetate conference delegates convened at the University of New England to share our understanding of the challenges and successes in restoration science in a fast-changing world. We hosted some of Australia’s and the world’s leading practitioners, scientists, consultants and advisers working in this space. A decade had passed since the revegetation industry, landcarers, mine rehabilitation experts, carbon farmers, wildlife scientists, natural resource managers, restoration ecologists, conservation biologists and social scientists last met nationally to review current theory and practice in restoration and landscape repair to sustain ecosystems and services for multiple objectives. More than 360 delegates attended Restore, Regenerate, Revegetate, which featured 190 presentations including 27 plenary and keynote speakers. Delegates included scientists, practitioners, landholders, Indigenous land managers and groups, and government and non-government organisations. The program covered a full spectrum of restoration topics, including the social and political facets of restoration; the practical aspects of restoration project design and execution; the sustainability of restoration in the face of continuing landscape and climate change, and restoration end points, goals and case studies. The symposia topics included: • Seed genetics and management • Broad-acre revegetation strategies and techniques • Riparian restoration and revegetation • Cost-effective revegetation and restoration • Connectivity for biodiversity in fragmented landscapes • Sustainable revegetation in a changing world: planning and design issues • Revegetation for ecosystem service provision • Restoration and indigenous NRM • Sociology of restoration, revegetation and landscape repair • Grazing management for biodiversity conservation • Restoration on farms • Soils and restoration • Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement of restoration and revegetation programs • Policy drivers for restoration • Invasive species and agri-ecosystem restoration • The role of fauna in restoration The role of the arts in communicating environmental messages was explored through engaging performance, artwork and a public forum in the Armidale Town Hall, and delegates visited local restoration projects and practitioners during a ¾-day field trip. In addition to these conference proceedings, video recordings of most conference presentations may be found at: https://www.une.edu.au/about-une/academic-schools/school-of-environmental-and-rural-science/ers-news-and- events/restore-regenerate-revegetate-conference-2017 The first of two journal special issues containing invited papers by conference plenary and keynote speakers can be found at: The Rangeland Journal, Vol. 39(5 & 6), 2017 http://www.publish.csiro.au/rj The second is due to be published as a special online issue of Ecological Management and Restoration later in 2018 at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1442-8903 On behalf of all my fellow organisers, I would like to extend my thanks to all the conference delegates who made the conference such a memorable event, to our generous sponsors shown on the opposite page, and to Dr Rhiannon Smith who singlehandedly managed the editing and refereeing of these conference proceedings. Professor Nick C. H. Reid Chair, Conference Organising Committee University of New England 18 February 2018 Restore, Regenerate, Revegetate Conference Proceedings, February 2018 iii The Armidale Declaration Agreed to by the approximately 120 delegates attending the final plenary session on 9 February 2017, at: Restore, Regenerate, Revegetate: A Conference about Restoring Ecological Processes, Ecosystems and Landscapes in a Changing World The delegates at the Restore, Regenerate, Revegetate Conference held at the University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, from 5–9 February 2017, shared an impressive body of practical and scientific knowledge of how we are restoring Australia’s natural heritage and environmental capital across the continent. However, the conference also highlighted several key points that must be addressed if we are to truly meet the challenges and opportunities of land repair. • We acknowledge the success of the last 30 years of land restoration and rehabilitation, but decry the continuing decline in the extent and condition of Australia’s native terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the impact that this will have on the health, prosperity, wellbeing and cultural legacy of future Australians. • We celebrate the significant contributions of many communities across Australia to repair their local environments. However, we have only just begun to address the vast challenge that confronts us. We have developed the skills, knowledge and passion to meet this challenge, but lack the market drivers to achieve the scale of response required. • We urge support for Indigenous groups so they can continue to work on country to manage our natural resources through the application of cultural science. • We urge effective action to limit human-induced climate change, which is crucial if we are to build on present and future restoration efforts. • We recommend ensuring that the principle of ‘net gain in biodiversity’ underpins all environmental regulation. • We recommend the development of a stable investment process that is decoupled from politics, has bipartisan support, retains and enhances social capital, and is independently administered, to support the actions and research required to reverse the ongoing decline in Australia’s natural terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (natural capital). • We recommend the establishment of a federal agency as the premier research and development organisation for promoting the productive and sustainable use of resources in rural Australia, in accord with the 2011 recommendations of the Productivity Commission. • We recommend the support and continued development of stable, long-term government institutions for natural resource administration and management, and the facilitation of strong partnerships between government, community and industry. • Finally, we recommend commonwealth, state and local governments define and mandate the use of native flora as an essential component in restoration and landscaping works associated with publicly funded road, rail and other infrastructure programs. Contact: David Carr BSc MResSc (NE) Stringybark Ecological 7 Taylor St, Armidale NSW 2350 Website: www.stringybarkecological.com.au