Charles Darwin University
The effectiveness of riparian fencing for biodiversity
conservation
Background | Methodology | Supervisors
|
Riparian zones are vital elements of the savanna
landscape. Their contribution to biodiversity, cultural values and
the economy is disproportionate to the small area they occupy. They
are important for maintaining savanna and in-stream biodiversity,
stream channel morphology and water quality. However, savanna
riparian zones are highly vulnerable to the effects of disturbances
such as weed invasion, feral animals, fire, over-grazing and
subsequent erosion. The appropriate management of riparian areas is
a significant issue for landholders to maximise productivity,
maintain the health of their country and help to maintain regional
biodiversity values.
In the past decade, land management groups around Australia have
invested large amounts of money in the protection and
rehabilitation of riparian habitats. Extensive areas of riparian
river frontage have been fenced-off throughout the Victoria River
District, to limit access by cattle and feral animals, and to
promote rehabilitation of degraded areas. As well as improving
stock management, it is generally assumed riparian fencing has
significant environmental value and enhances biodiversity
values.
However, there has actually been no detailed evaluation of the
benefits of riparian fencing, both for biodiversity and production.
It is also now apparent that new management issues are arising in
some fenced riparian zones, such as the spread of weeds and the
control of fire. It is important to rigorously investigate these
issues, in part to ensure that maximum benefit is gained form
future investments in environmental management on pastoral lands.
Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of
fencing for conserving savanna riparian biodiversity.
The Victoria River District contains sites with varying
histories of riparian fencing and provides a unique opportunity to
conduct research to determine how effective riparian fencing has
been in protecting rivers, and what management issues have arisen
as a result of fencing. In, this project, we seek to work with a
number of landholders in the region to investigate these
issues.
The project will have two main components:
-
A survey of the views of pastoral managers in relation to
riparian management. We aim to collect information about why
people have undertaken riparian fencing, what benefits it has
brought to them and the environment; what problems it may have
created; and whether further effort should be expended in this
area. We are also seeking to determine the location and extent or
riparian fencing, and the economic costs and benefits associated
with it.
-
Detailed on-ground surveys of riparian biodiversity in the
VRD. During these surveys, we will measure elements of riparian
habitats including soils, vegetation, birds and ants, to build up a
picture of the condition of riparian zones. If possible, these
surveys will be carried out in fenced and unfenced riparian zones
with a range of management histories.
The results from both the survey of pastoral land managers and
the survey of the condition of the riparian zones will be brought
together to assist landholders in the region to make management
decisions that will help maintain the health of the riparian
landscape, as well as maximising economic benefits. The results
will also help develop recommendations to assist people in policy,
management and investment positions.
Dr Michael Douglas, NTU
Dr Samantha Setterfield, NTU
Dr Alaric Fisher, NT DIPE
