Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Mapping Landcare projects in New England
Mapping individual environmental achievements to create a big picture in the New England area has proved invaluable in identifying gaps and bringing landholders together on future planning.
Landcare Coordinator Jackie Bowe said they wanted to capture landcare work in the region and create a special database on both government- and privately-funded projects.
Funding
In 2002, the Australian Government -through the Border Rivers Gwydir Catchment Management Authority (CMA) - provided more than $100,000 in funding to the Southern New England Landcare Coordinating Committee Inc (SNELCC) to produce a map of landcare projects in the New England area.
The State Government also provided assistance.
Activities
SNELCC initially ordered satellite spot imagery across an area of about 200 kilometres, from Guyra in the north to 30 kilometres south of Walcha, along a 100 kilometre-wide strip.
"We printed it onto large sheets and went out to 20 groups, asking people to mark where their property was and what projects they'd been doing, including information like how many trees had been planted and where fences had been built," Jackie said.
"One of our challenges was getting comprehensive and accurate records. Some people would try to remember how old their children were when they started planting. But they were all keen to see their achievements documented, and were making a good effort to recall old records."
With the New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation providing office space for the project officer, a geographic information system (GIS) computer, spatial data, large format printing and technical support from staff, the map was produced.
Achievements
It showed that, up until 2002, region residents had planted more than half a million trees and 66,000 shrubs, and erected close to 600 kilometres of fencing to protect plants and rivers.
While it showed the amazing results achieved by landcare groups, the map also gave a useful indication of where more work was needed.
"Showing landcare groups what they'd achieved helped boost morale and inspired landholders, so they saw they were part of this big movement that's achieving real results," Jackie said.
"But it's also been incredibly valuable to see where we needed to direct effort to fill in the gaps."
Jackie said the project had also encouraged spontaneous collective landscape planning among landholders.
"Neighbours got talking about what they'd planned for their places, and some cross-property projects were created," she said. "We still use the maps for this very process."
More information
- Kren Zirkler, Community Support Officer, Southern New England Landcare: (02) 6772 9123 or snelcc.karen@bigpond.com
- Jackie Bowe, Landcare Coordinator: (02) 6772 9123 or snelcc.jackie@bigpond.com Border Rivers - Gwydir CMA website: http://www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au/
- SNELCC's website: www.snelcc.org.au
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