A three-year project which assessed the vegetation on Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) near Inverell, Guyra and Glen Innes has recently been completed by Northern Tablelands Local Land Services.
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The Protecting Biodiversity on TSRs in the Northern Tablelands project, which was completed thanks to funding from the NSW government's Environmental Trust, has identified groundcover species and eradicate invasive weeds across 40 TSRs near Inverell, Guyra and Glen Innes, covering a total of 1280 hectares.
Local contractors sprayed out weeds such as African Lovegrass, Coolatai, Pyracantha, Hawthorn and Mimosa and the sites were monitored each year to see whether there was a change in desirable native pasture species composition in response to weed management.
"The outcomes of the project will enable Northern Tablelands Local Land Services to maintain and improve the productivity of these valuable assets with long-lasting benefits for landholders and community members well into the future," Northern Tablelands LLS TSRs project officer Helen Ward said.
The project has reduced weed spread to neighbouring properties, improved the productivity value of TSRs and has helped guide Local Land Services in making TSR management decisions.
TSRs have long been a valuable resource for farmers when times get tough.
"We recognise there are favourable native pasture species that can be encouraged as they prevail in dry conditions," Ms Ward said.
"With the information and data from the project we can manage these areas better to promote the regeneration of the native pasture species."
The containment of weeds will encourage the return of native grasses and protection of significant vegetation communities, such as New England Peppermint and Box Gum Grassy Woodlands.
The long, linear nature of TSRs means that their remnant vegetation forms the backbone of a network of corridors allowing wildlife to move through the landscape, particularly in times of crisis such as drought, fire, and flood.
Northern Tablelands Local Land Services continuously works to maintain and improve TSRs for production, social, cultural and environmental outcomes.
For more information on the Protecting Biodiversity on TSRs in the Northern Tablelands Project, contact Helen Ward on (02) 6720 8326.
