Advancing On-Ground Nature Conservation
The Desert Uplands Build-up and Development Strategy Committee (DUBDSC) has been running The Advancing On Ground Nature Conservation (AOGNC) program since 1999 and to this point in time has been a huge success. Funding for the many rounds of this program has mainly come from National Heritage Trust through the Three Regional Bodies that the Desert Upland Transects, being Desert Channels Qld (DCQ), Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM (BDTNRM), and Southern Gulf Catchments (SGC), and a small amount from Qantas.
|
|
ON-GROUND WORKS COVERED UNDER THIS PROJECT
- Fencing - to restrict stock access and allow strategic spelling of fragile areas and soil types.
- Stock watering points - installation or relocation of watering points to decrease stock impacts on riparian areas, wetlands or springs.
- Weed and pest control - including burning to reduce woody tree or weed thickening.
- Other infrastructure or works that maintain or enhance the natural values of an area.
From 1999 - 2004 sixty-nine projects have been funded which equates to approximately $625,000 being spent on ground. With the 2006/07 round a further 25 projects have been successful making another $277,000 of funding available for on-ground work. This equates to a total of $2.6 million, including in-kind landholder contribution, being spent over the last nine years spread though out 95 projects.
A new round of funding for 2007/08 has been opened for the western or Lake Eyre basin side of the DU with applications due in buy 27th July.
OTHER ON GROUND FUNDING
The DUBDSC has also been very successful in running on ground works through the National Landcare Program (NLP) and Envirofund. A total of 37 projects have been successfully funded with $765,000 being spent on on-ground works.
Over 35% of landholders in the Desert Uplands bioregion have applied to participate in conservation projects with the DUBDSC since 1999. During this time the DUBDSC has managed a total of 132 on ground projects and devolved over $1,600,000 for these projects. Including landholder contribution there has been $4.2 million spent in conservation work through the Advancing On-Ground Nature Conservation projects.