Innovation for Sustainability Environmental Management & Profitable Farming

1. Innovation for SustainabilityEnvironmental Management & Profitable Farming Corey Watts Australian Innovative Farming Conference Melbourne, October 5th – 7th

2. Australian Conservation Foundation • Community-based NGO with a 40 year history • Solutions-oriented approach: Science & Values • Strong links with producer, policy & research communities • Keen interest in the future of rural Australia

3. Agriculture in Australia: A Mixed Legacy • High economic benefits but high ecological cost: • Heavy toll on native habitat & wildlife • Soil degradation • Salinisation • Loss of water quality & waterway health • Chemical contamination • Pests & weeds • Greenhouse pollution • Increasing landholder engagement in environmental works, but landscape health still declining.

4. Landscape Health Across Australia • Stress index includes: • vegetation • salinity • pests and weeds • threatened species and ecosystems

5. Dryland Salinity

6. River Health & Water Quality

7. Agriculture & Climate Change

9. Sustainable Farming & Healthy Rural Landscapes – Seven Steps • Protect remaining native habitat & wild rivers (do better with what we’ve got) • Reward pro-active conservation management by farmers • Retire & rehabilitate some land & water • Promote new commercial-environmental ventures (new farming & new land-uses) • Re-design farming to reduce ecological footprint • ‘Green’ the supply chain • Link environmental progress with community development

10. Policy & Guidelines SOUTHCORP BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK SEMP Biodiversity Element Biodiversity Resource Kit BENEFITS Company, Community & Environment ACF-Southcorp Biodiversity Project

11. Heathy Woodland EVC- Messmate/StringybarkCommon Status - 24% lost 5.7 ha Habitat score = 71% Medium conservation priority- minimise loss Riparian Scrub EVC- Scented PaperbarkVulnerable Status- 86% lost in bioregion 1.5 ha in 10 fragments Habitat score = 49% High conservation priority- net gain (extent & quality)- options for improvement

12. Integrating & Improving Biodiversity • Biodiversity BMPs: • integrate conservation with other activities • Give clear expectations & guidance • Provide stakeholders with assurance of performance

13. Fuelling Landscape Repair ACF and JVAP, with assistance from the Myer Foundation, commissioned URS Australia to: Review bioenergy economics; Review potential to address land degradation & reduce GHG emissions; Map pathway to a sustainable bioenergy industry; Outline policy drivers.

15. Mallee Farming - Broad Benefits • Diversify farm income opportunities. • Help prevent salinisation. • Reduce dependence on fossil fuels. • Reduce greenhouse pollution & capture carbon. • Generate new technologies & export $$. • Raise community self-reliance and confidence. • Reduce risks of centralised power supply. • Reduce financial & environmental costs of electricity distribution. • Offer long-term job opportunities in regional Australia. • Prevent loss biodiversity and ecosystem services.

16. Future of Farming: Looking After the Land – For All It’s Values