How can landholders restore the natural landscape functions of their properties to increase resilience?

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The issue

The recent widespread drought clearly illustrated the need to make our landscapes more resilient and to find ways to effectively utilise as much rainfall as possible when it does fall. Since European settlement of Australia, changes have been made to the natural geography of the land. Many natural wetlands have been destroyed, eroded gullies are getting larger and draining water away from where it is needed most.

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Additionally, the depletion of natural habitats has led to decreasing biodiversity anda reduction in both fauna and flora species on-farm.Landholders are seeking achievable, realistic and economical ways of improving how their landscapes function.

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The solution

We engaged Tarwyn Park training to conduct a four-day hands-on workshop based on redesigning your farm through Natual Sequence Farming techniques and principles, in order to maximise productivity, enhance landscape function and minimise farm costs. Participants learnt how to r ead the landscape, full y utilise their natural resources, l ocate, design and build natural landscape structures, redesign their property and b egin improving landscape function, whilst at the sametime l owering farm costs and boosting profits. Natural sequence farming methods recommended by Tarwyn Park, include slowing the flow of water, controlling livestock movement and increasing biodiversity to reduce erosion and increase fertility and moisture retention.

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The course was held at the University of Sydney Digifarm, Narrabri, where onground trials of the Natural Sequence farming principles are being conducted. The Digifarm generaously engaged with the course participants, demonstrating the contour lines which they have constructed as part of the trials and allowing attendees to learn first-hand the procedures of laser levelling and how to get started on earthworks on their own properties.