Tas farmers protect environment for future generations

The Dunbabin family's dedication to the environment means they have made the tough decision to only lightly graze 85% of their 6400-hectare property at Dunalley in south-east Tasmania.

They have proven that their farming can be both successful and environmentally sustainable by devoting a large part of their land to conservation reserves and improving productivity on the remaining 15% of their land.

Key points

• Since 2001, the Dunbabins have increasingly devoted more land to conservation reserves and now have 2000 hectares of their property, Bangor, formally protected in perpetual conservation reserves

• 85 per cent of the property is covered in native vegetation, providing grazing and shelter for livestock, producing high quality Superfine Merino sheep's wool, and also harbouring birds and small animals which, in turn, help to control pasture grubs

• Bangor is home to more than 120 bird species, including wedge-tail eagles, sea eagles and swift parrots. Marsupial residents include Tasmanian devils, wallabies, bettongs, wombats and quolls
• To increase productivity on their land, the Dunbabins have plans to store water for irrigation and diversify their enterprise with broadacre cropping, irrigated pastures and the establishment of a vineyard

Setting aside land for conservation

It is thanks to farmers like Matt and Vanessa Dunbabin that Tasmania will always have a reputation for "clean and green" red meat.

Such is the Dunbabin family's dedication to the environment that they conserve 85 per cent of their property in south-east Tasmania and still manage to run a highly successful sheep and cattle enterprise from 15 per cent of their land.

The sixth generation farmers only lightly graze the 85 per cent of their property which is covered in native vegetation and completely exclude livestock from sensitive wetlands, coastline and watercourses.

Since 2001 they have increasingly devoted more land to conservation reserves and now have one-third of their property, Bangor, formally protected in perpetual conservation reserves.
With more than 2000 hectares of permanent forest reserves, Matt and Vanessa and Matt's parents Tom and Cynthia now have possibly the largest privately-owned area of land in Tasmania which is voluntarily reserved for conservation.

The covenants mean that in the future they will only ever be able to allow their sheep and cattle to lightly graze

in the reserves during certain times of the years. It also means they have committed to not harvesting the highly lucrative timber on their property.

It's a stance that has earned the family much recognition, with Tom and Cynthia receiving the National Landcare Nature Conservation Award in 1996 and the prestigious McKell Medal for excellence and achievement in natural

resource management in Australia in 2004.

Matt Dunbabin says there are multiple benefits from their family's long-standing practices to protect the environment.

"We are driven by the desire to protect the environment for the future," he says.

Spectacular haven for precious wildlife

Bangor is a spectacular environment with 6400ha comprising native forests, grassland and wetlands, 2000ha of permanent forest reserves and 35 kilometres of coastline. The property is home to more than 120 bird species, including wedge-tail eagles, sea eagles and swift parrots. Marsupial residents include Tasmanian devils, wallabies, bettongs, wombats and quolls.

The native vegetation provides livestock with shelter, produces Superfine Merino sheep's wool largely free from contamination and dust, and also harbours birds and animals, which in turn, help to control pasture grubs.

"It's also important to us that it's not just a workplace but where we live, where our kids will grow up. If you have to be gathering sheep along the cliff tops overlooking the ocean, it's not a bad day's work," Matt says.

While the benefits from their conservation practices are numerous, they also present a challenge, with a raft of legal and administrative requirements for managing native vegetation and ensuring the property continues to protect some of Tasmania's most precious and iconic wildlife species.

The conservation practices also mean that future profitability depends on the 15 per cent of the property that was cleared of native vegetation in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.

"The key is driving production and profitability from the productive land available," Matt says.

"It is a well known adage that "you can't be green when you are in the red" but it's true. Environmental management has to marry with productivity and profitability because you need a viable farm business to invest in conservation activities."

Matt says that 40 years ago, farm income generated from the family's 6400 hectare sheep and cattle property comfortably fed four families.

Today, they run twice as many sheep and cattle but declining terms of trade mean that their income supports just them, their two young children and Matt's parents.

It is a story that's familiar for farmers across Australia but is particularly acute for the Dunbabins because of their decision to conserve 85 per cent of their property and focus their farming operations on their remaining land.

To make the most of the 15 per cent of cleared land, the Dunbabins improve paddock productivity by applying fertiliser, carefully managing livestock grazing, selecting the most productive pasture species and breeding stock with the best genetics.

Broadening their income stream

Matt and Vanessa also have big plans for diversification.

Currently they are building a large dam, which will mean they will have irrigation water for the first time.

With irrigation, Matt and Vanessa will diversify their business and devote 200 ha of the property to irrigated crops and pastures.

They also plan to establish a vineyard and plant 10 hectares of pinot noir and chardonnay grapes to produce premium cool-climate wine.

And to take advantage of their unique landscape, the Dunbabins will team up with local ecotourism operators and become involved in ecotourism by offering wildlife

tours and guided walks.

"We want to find avenues to extract more value from the property, but we also want to maintain the integrity and conservation values of the land," Matt says.

"Our overarching goal is to have a viable, sustainable cattle and sheep farming enterprise which carefully manages the environment."