AUSTRALIA’S vital underground water reserves could be given a boost by strategically planting trees, according to the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT). New research in Victoria’s mid-west since 2009 showed a drop of up to three metres in the water table underneath a tree plantation – compared with a one metre rise …. more
Landcare / Ecology
Plant identity now traceable via DNA barcoding
Dr Alison Shapcott, University of the Sunshine Coast. QUEENSLAND research capabilities are under the international spotlight, with scientists DNA barcoding all 870 species of plants found in south-east Queensland rainforests. Science and Innovation Minister Ian Walker said the ground breaking work will build a global reference database, while assisting to protect rare species and map …. more
Eco grazing goats for weed control
WEED control is a time-consuming and often expensive activity for anyone who has acreage or farming lands. The hills of Hunchy in the Blackall Range escarpment have a particular weed, Japanese Sunflower, that smothers cleared inaccessible areas preventing regeneration of native vegetation. The weed control is also difficult and expensive due to the steep and …. more
Plight of wetland bird recognised in Australia
The Australian Painted Snipe. Photo by Andrew Silcocks. Why is the Australian Painted Snipe being placed on the national Endangered List good news? It means that the beleaguered shorebird can finally receive the level of protection that it needs to survive. It’s ironic that being listed as ‘Endangered’ is good news for the endemic Australian …. more
Productive and resilient pastures better cope with a changing climate
Soils for Life demonstration and field day THE national Soils for Life initiative is actively encouraging farmers to learn about and adopt regenerative landscape management practices to help build healthy, productive and profitable landscapes which are resilient to the effects of a changing climate. Shane and Shan Joyce of ‘Dukes Plain’ near Theodore in South-Eastern …. more
Chemical-free weed control through regenerative land management practices
THE national Soils for Life initiative is actively encouraging farmers to learn about and adopt regenerative landscape management practices to help build healthy, productive and profitable landscapes which are resilient to the effects of a changing climate. A Soils for Life Demonstration and Field Day, themed ‘Competitive exclusion to manage weeds – ideas for small and …. more