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Sustainability on Small Farms |
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About Sustainability on Small Farms
The Sustainability on Small Farms project recognises that small farms have not been a focus for regional bodies aiming to achieve large catchment targets. Combined with on going rural subdivision this has resulted in a overwhelming demand for information and on-ground support from small farms in the Molonglo catchment. The Small Farms project will cater to the needs of small farm managers by providing field days, on-site advice and tailored incentives to achieve real on ground change. The Molonglo catchment covers an area of about 200,000 ha, much of which was once covered in threatened Box - Gum grassy woodland and natural temperate grassland. Agriculture and urban expansion, particularly peri-urban expansion, have impacted heavily on these habitats. The protection, extension and connection of the remaining modified woodland and grassland patches are critical for maintaining biodiversity and habitat values in this area. Much of the remaining habitat is present on small farms, so Sustainability on Small Farms aims to educate these landholders about what is present on their property and provide incentives to allow them to preserve, expand and connect these remnants. Among the species reliant on this vegetation community are Superb Parrots, Brown Tree Creepers, Rosenberg monitors, pink-tailed worm lizards, grassland earless dragons and sugar gliders.
Similarly, Greening Australia Capital Region has been working with the small acreages in the ACT region for over a decade. Projects such as VIP, Corridors of Green and, more recently, Under New Management and Good Neighbours have recognised the importance of actively engaging small farms managers in improving their land, water and vegetation management practices. Sustainability on Small Farms is aimed at supporting the overwhelming demand for information and on-ground support from small farm hotspots around the ACT in the Molonglo catchment. This project is a partnership between the Molonglo Catchment Group and Greening Australia Capital Region supported by the Australian Government's Caring for our Country initiative and will provide extensive on-site advice, support and tailored incentives aimed at improving the sustainable management practices across several small farms in the Molonglo catchment such as:
Contacts: If you would like to discuss participating in this project, call Molonglo Catchment Coordinator, Andy Westcott on 6299 2119 or by email at coordinator at molonglocatchment.com.au Greening Australia Project Officer, Angela Calliess on 6253 3035 or by email at angela.calliess at act.greeningaustralia.org.au
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Many small farms managers in the Molonglo catchment are new to
the land and lack experience. This is impacting adversely on sustainable
agricultural practices and biodiversity protection, and collectively affecting
large areas of the landscape. Issues often associated with small farm managers
include misidentification of weeds and native plants, inadvertent introduction
of weed species and overstocking and overgrazing of small areas inadvertently
increasing erosion and leading to water quality issues in dams and waterways.
Small farms now cover large areas of the Molonglo catchment.
Their managers are often new to the land and lack experience which can impact
adversely on sustainable agricultural and biodiversity protection. The Molonglo
Catchment Group and its member groups have long recognised the potential impact
of small farms on the landscape and have developed publications, field and
training days, regular meetings with guest speakers to influence and assist farm
management within the catchment.