DEW news goes live

The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has launched a new online site for all "live" environmental news from across the state.

Environment SA News will allow DEW to share information directly with people who want to know more about environmental issues in South Australia.

Environment SA News will carry content such as:

• Timely information about DEW’s programs and projects
• Information about how to connect with DEW’s programs and services, including having a say on matters of interest
• Inspiring stories and visuals to remind us why the environment is important and to motivate everyone to do their bit to look after it
• Links to more detailed or technical information for those who want a deeper understanding of the issues and what they can do to help
• News about the department’s actions on climate change and coastal management; natural resources and wildlife; people, parks and places; and management of water resources.

To find out more and to subscribe go to: ttps://www.environment.sa.gov.au/news-hub/news 

Biodiverse carbon farming comes to KI

Most of us have done some revegetation or helped an area regenerate. After all the planning, organising and hard work it is gratifying to see the plants grow and to enjoy the biodiversity, agricultural and amenity improvements they bring.
What if these activities could also earn you money for the next 25 years just by storing carbon as they grow?

The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has identified Kangaroo Island as a primary location to launch a biodiverse carbon farming pilot project because of its rainfall, soils, potential carbon yield, and brand reputation.

Carbon farming can generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by following specific carbon farming methodologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or store (sequester) carbon. The carbon credits can be sold to provide an additional financial revenue flow to the landholder.

The Kangaroo Island Biodiverse Carbon Pilot Project will provide incentives to participating landowners to undertake plantings and/or natural regeneration of native vegetation to provide a new, long-term income stream. These activities will be structured to provide agricultural and biodiversity benefits (known as co-benefits) as well as store carbon.

Small-scale plantings or actively supporting natural regeneration can provide shelter for stock, reduce evaopration through breaking the wind, reduce erosion, filter nutrients and sediments from water flowing into rivers and dams and harbour beneficial pollinating and predatory insects as well as sequestering carbon.

Using a mixture of local indigenous species will provide greater biodiversity benefits as well as improved connectivity, reduced fragmentation and restored ecosystem functionality. These agricultural and biodiversity “co-benefits” may attract a premium price from some purchasers of carbon credits.

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the Kangaroo Island Biodiverse Carbon Pilot Project are now open and forms are available from the Natural Resources Centre, 37 Dauncey Street Kingscote, ph: (08) 8553 4444, email: grant.flangan@sa.gov.au

EOI forms and advice are also available for download here

FAQs on the project can be viewed here and more general information on the project can be found here

New funding from the Regional Land Partnerships Program

The Australian Government (AG) recently announced the successful bids for a share of around $ 450 million in the next phase of the National Landcare Program, known as the Regional Land Partnerships Program. This includes the $100 million previously agreed in the 2016-17 mid-year economic and fiscal outlook.

The majority of the funding will be delivered over a period of five years - from July 2018 to June 2023 - while some elements of the program began during the 2017-18 financial year. The projects were required to address the AG's specified outcomes and priorities.

The AG recently informed the KI NRM Board of their success with respect to the Narrow-leaved Mallee Restoration project and the Future Proofing Agriculture on KI projects.

Future Proofing Agriculture on Kangaroo Island is a one year project made up of four components seeking to address the Australian Government’s Outcome 6: By 2023, there is an increase in the capacity of agriculture systems to adapt to significant changes in climate and market demands for information on provenance and sustainable production. The KI NRM Board is partnering with AgKI and PIRSA to deliver the project, though the full spread of agriculture industry groups on the island will be involved through being invited to participate in working groups.

The four project components will seek to:

• Develop an action plan for farmers and other stakeholders that identifies key priorities and strategies for adapting to the climatic changes that are anticipated for KI, including warming and drying, seasonal shifts, and more intense weather events. Some of the actions identified may be relevant in the short-term, requiring small incremental changes to farming practices, while others may be relevant in the medium to longer term and may be more resource intensive requiring system changes or even a complete transformation in approach.
• Identify and showcase new and innovative tools and technologies to improve on-farm decision making and farming practices, e.g. Pastures from Space
• Facilitate the uptake of opportunities under the Emissions Reduction Fund using the Australian Government’s methodology for sequestering soil carbon in grazing systems. The benefits of sequestering more carbon are multiple and include an additional source of on-farm income through the generation of carbon credits, increased soil carbon and hence improved soil condition leading to increased production and profitability. Being carbon neutral on-farm will help to maintain and improve market access through demonstrating sustainable and responsible production, as well as mitigating climate change.
• Investigate options for a suitable farm stewardship and accreditation scheme for KI to give consumers the reassurance they are increasingly seeking that food is produced in a sustainable and ethical way, thereby maintaining KI’s market access, substantiating the KI brand proposition, and potentially even fetching a premium price for product. Such a farm stewardship scheme should also seek to facilitate improved access to finance and should be practically useful to farm managers, rather than an added burden.

The Kangaroo Island Narrow-leaved Mallee project (NLM project) will deliver priority actions to will improve the condition of the EPBC listed Kangaroo Island Narrow-leaved Mallee (Eucalyptus cneorifolia) Woodland Threatened Ecological Community.

This vegetation community is unique to Kangaroo Island and supports a number of rare and threatened plant species that are endemic to eastern Kangaroo Island.

Over the next five years the project will seek to:

• Remove impediments to the delivery of NLM community recovery actions recommended in the Conservation Advice for KI Narrow-leaved Mallee Woodland Threatened Ecological Community.
• Improve the condition of remnant NLM community patches through:

1. Direct investment in threat mitigation actions such as bridal veil control and fencing projects.
2. Empowering landholders to undertake best practice management of NLM on their properties.

• Increase the extent and connectivity of the NLM community through direct investment in revegetation projects on private land.
• Deliver outcomes by engaging with a wide range of landholders that have patches of the NLM community on their properties, including primary producers, lifestyle property owners and conservation landholders. Engagements will include field demonstrations, property visits and workshops, supported by the development of tools and an on-ground works incentive grants scheme to deliver NLM community rehabilitation actions.

There was some disappointment about unsuccesful project bids to the Regional Land Partnerhsips and Smart Farms programs given the considerable time and effort that went into the tender proccess. These projects were:

• Coastal Adaptation on Kangaroo Island – Securing an island haven for hooded plovers and coastal habitats
• Communities driving recovery: Delivering improved trajectories for Kangaroo Island threatened species through on-ground action and local stewardship
• Native shellfish reef restoration and development of a niche, provincial native oyster industry for Kangaroo Island to support adaptation and restore coastal ecosystems
• Delivering effective feral pig control on Kangaroo Island - connecting land managers, industry and agencies to reduce the impacts of feral pigs on agricultural and environmental assets using innovative tools and methods tailored to KI conditions
• Integrated Pest Management Project for Kangaroo Island's viticulture, potato and broad acre mixed farming industries
• Remediating the Birchmore-Chain of Lagoons Watercourse on Kangaroo Island
• Identifying the role for Kangaroo Island native grasses in perennial grazing systems

NRKI will now look at repurposing these application for other funding grants such as the Commonwealth Government's Smart Farms grants and Environment Small Grants.

Flinders Chase nears its centennial

The 16 October 2019 will mark 100 years since Flinders Chase was set aside for nature and heritage conservation purposes.

Flinders Chase National Park is now seen by many to be the jewel in the crown of both tourism and conservationism in South Australia, drawing in visitors from around the globe.

A number of events will be held through 2019, building up to key celebrations and a fun and varied spread of activities that the community and visitors can participate in in the week of 8 to 16 October 2019.
The activities will celebrate all aspects of the park; from its abundant wildlife, unique plants and fungi, to its geological features, archaeology and heritage of importance to Europeans and Aboriginal people.

So why not make plans to discover or return to Flinders Chase in 2019?

Help us mark this major milestone and join in the celebrations from 8 – 16 October 2019 with activities including:

• citizen science
• science presentations
• guided walks
• local performances and demonstrations 
• competitions
• live music, bush dance and concert
• children’s activities: nature play, eco-art and bush picnics
• plaque unveiling and more!

For more information visit the Natural Resources Kangaroo Island website, which will be updated with activities: www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/kangarooisland/get-involved/Flinders_Chase_100

Do the right thing!

Over the last three months we have been rolling out our compliance series of articles. Natural Resources Kangaroo Island’s compliance series sought to provide information and clarity on how people can ‘do the right thing’.

This series is available to view on our website and covers topics including:

• The benefits of native vegetation are clear
• Help keep Kangaroo Island’s marine environment pristine
• Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility: biosecurity precautions on the island
• Don’t be a damned nuisance: dams and responsible water management
• Keep household pets under control to protect wildlife: domestic cat and dog Managment (in partnership with Ki Council)
• Dealing with pests: pest plant and animal control
• Making the most of KI’s parks: get the most from our parks and reserves while respecting what they protect and provide

Share your experience

Our team is always interested in stories that are generated by the program. We’d love to hear about your education experience. If you are willing to share your story in an upcoming edition of the Education eNewsletter, please contact us.