Building confidence in the field

It was a whirlwind visit, but one dedicated to showcasing the vital work Natural Resource Management organisations carry out across Far North Queensland.

The North Queensland NRM Alliance and its member organisations, Cape York NRM, Terrain NRM and Gulf Savannah NRM put together a five-day field trip for representatives of the Australian Government Regional Land Partnerships Program so that they could witness first-hand the work carried out by the members to protect threatened species, improve the health of the lands and waterways of the regions, and build resilience to climate change.

The field trip was the first since COVID-19 restricted travel to the region for such on-the-ground working trips.

From Normanby Station, Artemis Station and Lakeland, through to Mareeba, the Tablelands and Ravenshoe, down to South Johnston, El Arish, Cardwell and Mission Beach, the delegates were show a wide range of project sites which focused on:

• Fire management
• Wetlands management
• Revegetation and weed management
• Grazing land management
• Pasture improvement projects
• Compost techniques
• Agriculture innovation
• Golden-shouldered parrot viewing
• Ant plant viewing
• Northern Quoll and Northern Bettong protection
• Cassowary corridors

“It was a diverse show-and-tell, with some remote and interesting landscapes covered over the five days,” NQ NRM Alliance Executive Officer Kym Lesinski said. 

“Each NRM group made sure the visit was balanced with on-ground information and unique experiences only to be had in North Queensland. 

“I think the delegates left the region with a high degree of confidence in our capability to deliver RLP projects, our professionalism and knowledge of our regions, and our strong relationships with landholders and the community.”

The Regional Land Partnerships (RLP) Program is a key part of the Federal Government's $1 billion investment under the National Landcare Program.

Projects delivered under the RLP focus on recovering vulnerable ecological communities, protecting threatened species and reducing threats to globally significant wetlands. Additionally, the RLP includes sustainable agricultural projects to improve soil quality, assist farmers adapt to climate change, and respond to evolving market demands.

“The three NRM organisations in the Alliance have a proven track record in facilitating successful projects through the RPL prgram and we look forward to funding opportunities for new and exciting collaborations into the future,” Mr Lesinski said.