Australian biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms on earth - the different plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems they exist in.

In relation to livestock grazing, biodiversity refers to the woodlands, native scrub, trees, shrubs and native grasses, as well as the animals and insects that call this environment home. The industry strives to managing the environment in a manner that not only co-exists along side rich biodiversity, but also helps biodiversity to thrive.

Changing farming practices

All forms of food production contribute to a loss of biodiversity to varying degrees and it is important that any impacts on biodiversity are managed effectively. There is no denying that farming practices throughout the 1800s and first half of the 1900s had some detrimental impacts on Australia's biodiversity due to government mandated land clearing in a belief that Australia should be farmed with European methods.

In the past, land clearing reduced areas of remnant native vegetation which, coupled with some traditional land management practices, resulted in a decline in biodiversity.

Today, however, farmers strive to protect, manage and enhance biodiversity on grazing farms. The planting of trees and shrubs can alleviate problems such as erosion and soil structure decline, making the land more productive as well as increasing biodiversity.

Farmers and biodiversity

Biodiversity is a priority natural resource management issue for the red meat industry. Beef producers nationwide have responded to the challenge of biodiversity conservation by:

• Dedicating areas of their farms to revegetation

• Fencing remnant and revegetated areas to exclude stock and feral animals

• Planting tree belts to protect stock to provide shelter for native fauna

Natural Resource Management

Natural Resource Management (NRM) is an important activity on 94% of Australian farms, resulting in improved productivity and farm sustainability. By applying three principles to retain, restore and revegetate, farmers protect, manage and enhance biodiversity on grazing farms.

Australian farmers are planting more trees for environmental purposes than a decade ago. In 2001, farmers planted 20.6 million tree seedlings for NRM compared with 9 million in 1991.

On average, each Australian farmer plants 150 tree seedlings a year, solely for conservation purposes.

Landcare network

Many of Australia's livestock producers are active members of Landcare groups and have been since Landcare's inception 20 years ago. Landcare was established by the National Farmers' Federation and the Australian Conservation Foundation to provide a vision for the transformation to ecological sustainability through collective community lead groups. Details of some of the work livestock farmers do with Landcare groups across the country can be found in the case studies.

Ongoing research projects

The livestock industry, through Meat & Livestock Australia, continues to invest in research and development to better understand biodiversity on farms. Recognising the activities of producers providing biodiversity benefits on farm will be facilitated by the introduction of the national Environmental Accreditation System being developed.

By investing substantially in long-term research programs that address soil erosion, dryland salinity and soil acidification, such Grain & Graze and EverGraze the industry will:

• Provide access to a substantial body of research generated during the collaborative Sustainable Grazing on Saline Lands (SGSL) initiative through the Saltland Genie
• Quantify the competitive and beneficial effects of trees on northern Australian properties to help develop land management guidelines to improve decisions regarding grazing and land management, land clearing, tree retention, salinity and carbon sequestration
• Develop recommendations for use of fire on northern Australian properties to manage vegetation and create a better balance between woody vegetation and native pasture species
• Learn how best to control pest animals that can damage crops, prey on livestock and native wildlife, and compete for pasture. Pest animals can also cause land degradation, spreading weeds and contributing to soil erosion and stream turbidity
• Invest in strategic research, such as plant DNA technologies, for continued innovation in the grazing industries to improve pest resistance and create more drought tolerant pasture species for the changing Australian climate
• Develop soil research tools to accelerate research on the impact of soil biological constraints (eg soil-borne diseases, fungi and nematodes) in different pasture management systems. Eventually these tools may be developed as soil health diagnostic tests for farmers and advisors
• Develop training courses for farmers that offer a 'whole of pasture' approach for weed control that also looks after the soil
• Assist farmers identify and reduce the risk of soil nutrient loss when applying phosphorus and nitrogen fertilisers, through an online Farm Nutrient Loss Index and user manual, which may reduce farm emissions of nitrous oxide
• Demonstrate how farmers can stem rising water tables by planting deep-rooted improved perennial pasture species, such as saltbush, warm-season grasses and legumes
• Biodiversity in Grain & Graze (BiGG) program, where 47 mixed farmers managing around 170,000ha of land have become advocates for biodiversity
• The five-year Pigeon Hole project (2003-2008) demonstrated how grazing on tropical savannah rangelands can be managed to increase biodiversity. For example, populations of planigales - a tiny carnivorous marsupial related to Tasmanian devils and quolls - were sensitive to grazing pressure, and the project explored different levels of grazing that would allow this species and others to persist. Land condition factors such as ground cover and palatable plant species composition also improved when researchers targeted 20% pasture utilisation through smaller paddock sizes and additional water points

The tree-grass balance

The balance between trees and grass is a major factor influencing productivity, environmental stability and biodiversity.

A project is underway in northern Australia to quantify the competitive and beneficial effects of trees. By scientifically measuring these benefits, new management guidelines will be established to improve decision-making in relation to grazing and land management, land clearing or tree retention, salinity and carbon sequestration.

Fire management

Protecting and maintaining remnant vegetation involves good management of woody cover in native pasture areas. Woodland thickening affects a large part of northern Australia to the extent that it is reducing carrying capacity by limiting native pasture growth and ground cover.

In conjunction with the Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Council and other stakeholders, Meat & Livestock Australia is developing recommendations for use of fire to manage vegetation and to create a more appropriate balance between woody vegetation and native pastures.

Research on local burning strategies is underway on grazing properties in the Gulf savannas. It aims to determine the balance between ensuring forage for productive grazing and maintaining sufficient fuel for fires to reduce woody weeds.