'Kincora' is a productive mixed grazing/cropping property south of Gundagai. Like many in the south west slopes twenty years ago, owner Sam Archer was facing issues with salinity and erosion. Farmers at the time took a chance and worked closely with Landcare and Greening Australia to preserve remnants, fence off drainage lines, and plant new seedlings across their paddocks. Two decades later, research by ANU which has closely monitored these areas since the beginning is showing clear improvements in both biodiversity, and the farm’s bottom line.
“We planted the trees and excluded stock for three years and in that time we’ve doubled our carrying capacity” Sam Archer
Our researchers have found that fencing off remnant woodlands, and planting new trees have clear economic benefits to primary producers. Farmers themselves are directly seeing the advantage too.
READ MORE: Mr. Archer and our researchers outline the benefits of conservation on private land in an article in The Land.