NRM South programs & activities 2011-12

Background

NRM South is a non-government leader in natural resource management in southern Tasmania. Established in 2003, we are one of three NRM regions in Tasmania and part of a national network of 56 similar organisations. We work with all three tiers of government, industry, other non-government organisations and the community to protect and enhance land, freshwater coastal and marine environments in southern Tasmania and the life they support.

NRM South is supported by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Tasmanian Government. Our 22 team members are located across southern Tasmania, with the head office in Hobart.

The following pages contain a brief outline of the projects we will be concentrating on over the next 12 months (and beyond), presented in line with the NRM South Corporate Plan strategic priorities.

Corporate priorities

1. Develop and share knowledge of the region’s natural resource condition, values and threats
2. Build partnerships and engage the community in positive action
3. Deliver on-ground and sustainable practice programs in priority areas
4. Optimise the use of available resources for NRM and secure additional resources
5. Govern and manage the NRM South business effectively

Natural resource management strategy for southern Tasmania 2010–15

S1. Maximise return for natural resource management investment.
S2. Increase Community Awareness of the Region’s natural resources.
S3. Manage current and emerging threats to the Region’s natural assets.
S4. Measure and report changes in natural resource conditions.
S5. Increase stakeholders’ capacity to use the Region’s natural assets wisely.

1.     Develop and share knowledge of the region’s natural resource condition, values and threats

Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon community report card

Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon is internationally recognised for its biodiversity values. A short report will be prepared to showcase the natural values of this Ramsar site and the condition of key indicators of ecological health.

Partners: Sorell Council, Clarence Council, Parks and Wildlife Service, Southern Water, Birds Tasmania

NRM Strategy: S2, S3, S4, S5

Landscape function

The way in which a landscape functions as a biophysical system is the basis of a new monitoring technique devised by former CSIRO researcher David Tongway. NRM South has arranged for David to introduce the technique through two workshops in October, one for technical professionals and one for landholders.

David’s ‘reading the landscape’ approach allows land managers to monitor function by using ground cover and other soil surface indicators to assess how well a landscape is working as a biophysical system (i.e. water, carbon and nutrient cycling).

NRM South will seek to incorporate function analysis in planning for implementation of new biodiversity conservation directions and also link it with carbon farming opportunities.

Partners: TIA, UTAS

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S5

Fungi conference

Building on the success of the Fungal Foray held in 2010–11, the April 2012 conference will comprise five days of activities for land managers, scientists, care groups, kids and grownups. There will be a debate on edible fungi, identification workshops, a fungal foray and a conference. The aim of the program is to explain how land can be managed for fungi, which play a very important role in landscape rehabilitation.

Partner: Fungi Map

NRM Strategy: S2, S5

Derwent catchment

We will work with our partners and water quality experts  to present the results of the water quality technical review and consider recent and current management activities as a springboard into updating priorities for management of the Derwent River and its catchment. 

Partners: Derwent Catchment NRM, Derwent Estuary Program, Hydro Tasmania, Greening Australia , Department of Primary Industries, Parks Water and Environment, Southern Water

NRM Strategy: S4, S2, S1

Saltmarshes

Saltmarshes are particularly vulnerable to changes in sea level, temperature and increased storm events. Mapping of the saltmarshes in the southern region is largely complete, particularly in the Derwent estuary and Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon areas. This year we intend to fill in the gaps and extend the program to examine the effects of predicted sea level rise on saltmarsh inundation with the view to informing planning and management decisions.

NRM Strategy: S2, S3, S4, S5

Regional reporting

NRM South produced the Natural Resource Management Strategy for Southern Tasmania 2010–2015 for the benefit of the regional community. It is up to all of us to implement the strategy; we will work with all those undertaking NRM activity in our region to collect information in order to report on its progress. We will also provide information on NRM values and issues for the region, beginning with an analysis of landuse change across the region. An important task for NRM South in the coming year will be to prepare spatial information to inform investment in Carbon Futures.

NRM Strategy: S4

State of the Channel

The health of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel has been the focus of numerous studies, and there is a need to update and compile the information. We will contribute to a project  to produce an integrated reporting and management framework that could form the basis of a larger ongoing program involving a range of stakeholders working together to monitor and manage the Channel environment.

Partners: Kingborough Council (project leaders), Huon Valley Council, Derwent Estuary Program, DPIPWE, CSIRO, TAFI, Derwent Estuary Program, Tassal, Southern Water, Huon Aquaculture

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S3

Landscape connectivity for biodiversity protection

NRM South is committed to ensuring that we can provide information to support landscape-level decision making and prioritisation of on-ground works. We recognise that there is considerable expertise in Tasmania to support this work and are working to coordinate information on connectivity.

Partners: DPIPWE, Cradle Coast NRM, NRM North, Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Greening Australia, Hydro Tasmania, Forestry Tasmania

Steering committees

NRM South will continue to participate in and lend expertise to various NRM steering committees and working groups such as Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania, Ocean Watch, Fire Management Stakeholder Group, Southern Tasmanian Weed Strategy and the Data Access Working Group.

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S3, S5

2.     Build partnerships and engage the community in positive action

Building alliances and partnerships

We will continue to build alliances and partnerships to support the implementation of the regional NRM strategy. We will support collaboration efforts by clarifying stakeholders’ roles and involvement and highlighting opportunities for collaboration.

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S5

Local extension

We will continue to build partnerships with local and state government and catchment committees to enhance NRM activities across the region. Our local coordinators play a key role in engaging local communities and landholders in NRM activities, and providing access to capacity building and information resources.

Partners: Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, Derwent Catchment NRM Committee, Huon Valley Council, Kingborough Council, Hobart City Council, Sorell Council and Tasman Council.

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S3, S4, S5

Aboriginal land management

A new role, hosted at NRM South, will be to develop a project to provide employment opportunities for the Aboriginal community in land management activity. The new role will initially focus on developing a business model for training and employment opportunities.

Partners: Indigenous Coordination Centre, Australian Government FaHCSIA, DPIPWE, NRM North, Cradle Coast NRM, Australian Government Caring for our Country

NRM Strategy: S2, S5

Coastcare

NRM South will continue to support the innovative partnership with the community organisation Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania to implement the two-year ‘Filling the Gaps for Coastcare communities in Southern Tasmania’ project. This project includes the ongoing employment and hosting of two SCAT officers at NRM South.

Partner: Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania

NRM Strategy: S2, S3, S5

Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area biosecurity

The ‘Keeping it Clean’ field hygiene training will continue as we tackle the introduction and/or spread to the world heritage area of pests and pathogens such as chytrid frog disease and didymo (rock snot). An equipment washdown station trial is soon to begin; over the next year we plan to establish more such stations at key bushwalking track heads. Key land managers and users of the World Heritage Area are being proactively engaged to adopt new field hygiene practices and to help spread the ‘check, clean, disinfect, dry’ message.

In 2011–12 we will produce a number of informative publications, brochures and signs, and establish 15 washdown stations.

Partners: DPIPWE, Hydro Tasmania & Forestry Tasmania

NRM Strategy: S2, S3, S5

Volunteer support

We will continue to support the community volunteer sector through:

• capacity building for community NRM volunteers and their support organisations through the delivery of training and networking forums
• the Naturally Inspired grants program, supporting around 20 community groups
• promoting and maintaining the Nature Hub website (www.naturehub.org.au) as a one-stop shop for information for the NRM volunteer sector.

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S5

Biodiversity education and training

This year will feature training sessions on topics such as swift parrot and forty-spotted pardalote identification, cider gum habitat, shorebird awareness, swamp gum habitat and native grasslands.

There are over 20 training opportunities planned for the coming year.

Partners: Hobart City Council, Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, Kingborough Council, Parks and Wildlife Service

NRM Strategy: S2, S3, S5

Native gardens

Throughout October we will run a program intended to inspire targeted urban and peri-urban residents to plant Tasmanian native gardens and reduce the likelihood of weed escapes. Our on-ground team will visit the homes of people who wish to participate, offer advice and arrange plantings and weed removal where it is needed.

We will also publish the Native Garden Booklet, which describes how to establish a flourishing native garden.

NRM Strategy: S2, S3, S5

Community outreach

NRM South will continue to support and participate in community events to promote community involvement in NRM including Agfest, the TreadLightly Envirofest, Sustainable Living Expo, Coastcare Week, the Tasmanian Landcare Conference and many other events.

This year NRM South will be directly involved in more than 10 community events.

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S5

3.     Deliver on-ground and sustainable practice programs in priority areas

Native habitat protection

Local coordinators will work with land managers to enhance protection of EPBC listed species. Our approach involves helping landowners to protect and enhance threatened species habitat on their properties.

Partners: Local government, DPIPWE, rural land holders, Understorey Network and Kingborough Council

NRM Strategy: S2, S3, S5

Ramsar wetlands

Invasive plants such as gorse have infested a number of our region’s Ramsar wetlands and threaten to spread. Priority areas have been identified and control works have commenced, and will continue in 2011–12.

Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon, Interlaken wetland, Apsley Marshes and Moulting Lagoon will receive our attention as sites for restoration and management projects.

Partners: DCNRMC, GSB Council, Sorell Council

NRM Strategy: S3, S4

Sustainable practices – education and training

Based on feedback from landholders, NRM South is extending its Living Soils program. The program aims to improve landholders’ capacity to integrate regenerative agricultural principles into their farm business, by providing skills and knowledge and also with direct one-to-one support. The aim is to improve both profitability and the health of the landscape.

Field days and presentations are followed by more formal courses in specific areas of interest for those who wish to continue developing their skills. Subsequent site visits from technical consultants and local coordinators will help to cement each participant’s new understanding. This year we will build on previous activity with an increased focus on issues such as weed management, salinity and tree decline.

We have scheduled six introductory sessions, three training courses, four field days and around 40 property consultations during 2011–12.

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S4, S5

Building evidence for sustainable agriculture

We will continue to collect evidence of the effectiveness of regenerative agricultural practices and their uptake on farms in our region. The aim is to demonstrate their application on a range of properties and investigate whether they can provide benefits to production and biodiversity values, and also to the social aspect of farming.

Impacts on soil biology, chemistry and pasture diversity are being quantified in response to trials of planned grazing, and we will also be making some assessments of the motivations, drivers and barriers for property managers making the transition to using regenerative techniques.

We intend to establish 10 new demonstration sites (in addition to the five already active).

Partner: TIA

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S4, S5

Weeds management

NRM South has recently finalised the review of the Southern Tasmanian Weeds Strategy 2011–16 and will contribute to its implementation. The strategy outlines an integrated approach to addressing the weeds problem in the southern region, including which areas would benefit the most from attention and drawing containment lines for invasive species such as boneseed. The strategy will guide NRM South’s on-ground weed management work.

Partner: Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority

NRM Strategy: S1, S3, S4

4.     Optimise the use of available resources for NRM and secure additional resources

Funding growth and diversification

NRM South is seeking to secure additional funding for the sector and the organisation. In the coming year we will work with the other NRM regions, their boards and staff to develop a business prospectus and seek corporate sponsorship for NRM in Tasmania. We will continue to seek co-contribution from stakeholders and partners for new and ongoing projects of regional significance.

NRM Strategy: S5

Carbon Farming Futures program

We will commence planning for our role in the Commonwealth’s Carbon Farming Futures program including research and analysis to develop scenarios on regional climate change and providing a guide to where carbon farming projects should be located in the landscape. We will be looking for opportunities for collaboration to maximise the investment and NRM benefit for Southern Tasmania.

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S3, S5

Biodiversity fund

We will be exploring opportunities to secure investment in the region under the Commonwealth’s new $ 1 billion Biodiversity Fund. The Fund will allow landholders to undertake projects that establish, restore, protect and manage biodiverse carbon stores, primarily through revegetation.

NRM Strategy: S1, S2, S3, S5

5.     Govern and manage the NRM South business effectively

Efficient business operations

NRM South will continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations.

In 2011–12 we will:

• restructure the organisation to further improve stakeholder engagement, resource condition knowledge, monitoring and reporting
• review and improve business systems.

NRM Strategy: S1

NRM South staff volunteers

Would you like to conscript the help of someone from NRM South to help with your event? Fill in the form below (Word doc) and email it to admin@nrmsouth.org.au

• Corporate support application form