I have seen a documentary in the past 2 months that was talking off the restoration of the mining waste, which is call tailing, and consist of dry residue of the mineral extraction. The method uses the waste of one industry to help regenerate the land into a green field. I am posting you the link below.

You will notice that the article date from 2002, but it’s only recently that I have seen this.

 http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/general/resrpt2002/11.pdf

After a bit of discussion Hornfels Ridge will be the official name of the property.  Sunday a week ago, we began the task of the deliberate revegetation of some areas.

The previous owners ripped two lines alone the driveway so we began there planting alternating Lemon Citriodora & Red Gums.

Driveway Planting - Sam & Peter

Driveway planting - Peter & Sam

Driveway Planting - Peter

We also targeted the Gully Erosion near the driveway with planting of red gums, black wood and two different native shrubs . This gully needs lots of attention before it erodes too far – or any further really – so our plan is to put in natural barriers such as dead wood to slow the water progress and minimise the devastation it can wreck. The planting of trees and shrubs will assist in maintaining the top and sub soil and will provide habitat for local wildlife.

Tree Planting - Sam

Gully Erosian - Beck

Gully Erosian - Beck

Gully Planting

Gully planting on the other side of driveway

1.44pm, Oxford Landing Vineyard, Waikerie, The Riverland, South Australia

Picture this in 10 years

Still running around like a cut cat folks, with 19 days to go before we’re “On the Road Again”. I wanted to slide up to Oxford Landing to see how the revegetation program was going on our 1500 acre block next door. (If you go way back to the February 16th entry in the blog, back to the video that Freddy the vineyard manager and I made – very early in the morning folks – we’re standing on top of one of the native veg headlands of this particular 1500 acre block.)

When we’re travelling, people – press, trade and consumers – are always interested in what we’re doing with respect to organic and/or biodynamic vineyards and wines – and essentially anything to do with environmental issues in general.

The trees waiting to be planted

So I wanted to be up to speed with what is one of the major things we’re doing. This massive tree planting thing, taking the block back to scrub is a really lovely project that reflects what family-owned businesses can do – because they can, and because it’s the right thing to do. The carbon credits down the track will only be a bonus – it’s just good to be able to back up what you say about being the custodian of parcels of land with actually doing the right thing by them.

This is the third year that we’ve planted a section of this block. We’ve used these original headlands to harvest the native species seeds, and then we have given the seeds to a Mildura nursery to propagate the seedlings that are being matched up to the different soil types across the whole area. Each year that we’ve gone through the planting exercise, the guys at Oxford Landing have developed better ways of planting and getting these trees to survive, and this year we’re tackling 600 acres – planting trees at a frantic rate to take advantage of the tremendous rains we’re having.

The planter is pulled behind a tractor

Freddy was saying today that they’ve made observations on the weather, time of planting, incidence of rainfall, and the subsequent take rate for the seedlings – and is convinced that following nature’s lead is going to give them the best results this year. In this sort of region, spring (September – November) rainfall is similar to or higher than winter rainfall – so these native species need the spring – not summer – rainfall to survive and thrive. That’s why the boys started planting two weeks ago on a bit of a gamble – with the dirt dry – to get the trees into the ground, anticipating some rain this winter and spring. Like a gift from the gods, 15 mm of rain chased them, and then the boys put on a double shift to make the best use of the soil moisture, and we’ve had more rain! So the project is flying along, planting about 3,000 trees per shift.

Today, we’ve got yellow mallee (Eucalyptus incrassata ) going into the sandy stuff and red mallee (Eucalyptus gracilis) going into the rock. With any luck, there’s rain forecast for tomorrow, so these should get thoroughly watered in. It will be interesting to see what the place looks like 2, 5 and 10 years from now – especially when the birds and native fauna have moved back in.

View all the revegetation photos.

And attention sportsfans! Last night my Sainters hung on in a thriller against Carlton in the footy, and we’re now 12-0 for the season – never happened before in the history of the club, and according to the statiticians, no club that has ever been 12-0 has missed the Grand Final! So thank you St Nick Reiwoldt for the captain’s game and the 5 goals, and to the bloke that Hawthorn didn’t want anymore – our magic backman Zac Dawson, who slotted the last goal and sealed the game with only 2 minutes to go. I’ve sat down and worked out where I’ll be in the world for the July and August games, and I will try and find a way to see them. There’s got to be sports bars across London and the USA that get the telecasts. Our quest will be to find them!

Previous Bluecray articles have dealt with consequences of using herbicides in land stewardship. I have written these stories around Butterflies, Rufous Bettongs, Goannas and Frogs. The stories have links below.

However, there are many small animals (vertebrate and non vertebrate) that inhabit the weedy areas of the Mt Warning Caldera Region.  Some of these weed infested areas are often chosen for active land management , such as revegetation, habitat enhancement and enforced weed management.

I would like to say more about glyphosate and lantana management.

There is a trend to mass spray herbicides to manage the threat of Lantana, as it overtakes poorly managed land throughout SE QLD and NE NSW and much of Australia. This is being done in the name of BIODIVERSITY, habitat restoration and healing the land. However, the irony of it all, is that the acts of clearing, herbicide use and mass “management” actions, unless followed up immediately by vigilant seeding, planting, stock management and general land stewardship, will create more areas of threatened biodiversity and more areas of “weed”.

weeds.org.au – An Australian Weeds Committee National Initiative – Weeds PORTAL

Weeds.org.au – about John Thorp – policy and weed strategy directions

The Dynamics of Lantana camara Invasion of subtropical Rainforest in SE Queensland  by Daniel Stock – at Australian Digital Thesis Program (Griffith University 2005)

Macleay’s Swallowtail – a beautiful green and brown butterfly – bluecray.org

Philosophy of Environmental Destruction in the Name of Healing -bluecray.org

Litoria species – a little Frog of Wetlands, Forests and Woodlands – Habitat Care and Stewardship – bluecray Balance of Faeries blog

PK & Litoria look for Rufous Bettong – a threatened species listed as vulnerable by the NSW Government – bluecray Balance of Faeries blog

Rufous Bettong and the Glyphosate Bank – bluecray.org

PK and Litoria look for Rufous Bettong, and on the way, meet up with Goanna – bluecray Wisdom in the Land blog

Goanna leaves the glyphosate Bank, the butterflies leave too – bluecray Wisdom in the Land blog

Why Goanna left the Glyphosate Bank - bluecray.org

Growing by Organics – Food Gardens and Sharing – bluecray Wisdom in the Land blog

Land and Water Stewardship in the Mt Warning Caldera Region  - food for thought – bluecray.org

The Mt Warning Caldera Region has many disturbed, poorly managed lands and waterways. Lantana, Camphor Laurel and many other "weed" species abound. There is a trend for revegetation projects, (land for Wildlife, landcare, caring for our country etc) to incorporate herbicide spraying into the projects. Many projects are along waterways.

Has anybody seen that website that’s being advertised on TV – www.carbonsmart.com.au? They’re basically paying landowners to revegetate their land that the government has previously paid them to clear. About time too. Doesn’t take a genius to realise that clearing land in a climate as harsh as Australia’s is going to lead to everything turning to dust and either blowing away or washing away in the rain storms. Anyway, I’m going to look into it further. Might be worth buying a cheap block out bush and planting it out.

LAS VEGAS — Laurelle Hughes, president, High Desert Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc., and Ron Davidson, acting state conservationist for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Nevada, have signed an agreement to partner on five new projects in southern Nevada.

The five projects will stimulate economic development and increase conservation efforts in southern Nevada. “We’re really excited about these new opportunities to help our rural areas,” said Hughes. “The projects will create jobs and make the areas better places to live.”

The projects are:

• Salt-cedar removal will continue on private parcels in Oasis and Pahrump valleys, Nye County. Amargosa toad habitat will be enhanced on one parcel in Beatty. Work is being done by Southern Nye County Conservation District, Beatty Habitat Committee, and Amargosa Conservancy.
• The Town of Silver Peak in Esmeralda County will install their first solar powered street lights along Montezuma Avenue.
• Agricultural land in Lincoln County will be treated for priority noxious weeds.
• A new farmers’ market will be developed in Caliente in conjunction with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and Lincoln County Conservation District.
• In Henderson’s Acacia Park, the Tomiyasu Memorial Garden will receive a new shade grove and a dedication stone with the help of the Conservation District of Southern Nevada and City of Henderson.

The High Desert RC&D Council has been helping rural residents in southern Nevada since 1998. Previous projects include helping create the Children’s Park in Alamo, producing the Fugitive Dust handbook to improve air quality in Las Vegas, conducting grant writing workshops, and raising native seed for revegetation efforts. The Council is also helping make Bootleg Canyon Park out of a retired rock quarry in Boulder City

Four RC&D councils provide service to communities in Nevada. In addition to the High Desert RC&D area in southern Nevada, the Western Nevada RC&D covers west-central Nevada, Da Ka Doiyabe RC&D covers northeastern Nevada, and North Cal-Neva RC&D covers northern Washoe County.

For more information about the High Desert RC&D, contact Teri Knight, coordinator, at  (702) 262-9047  x 108 or visit the NRCS Web site at www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov.

Non-Political and Not-For-Profit, Trees For Life is the largest community based volunteer revegetation & bushland protection organisation of its type.

South Australia has been left with the legacy of excessive land clearing. The long term effects of this include loss of biodiversity, plant and animal extinction, soil erosion, increased salinity and weed invasion.

Working with the community to promote and assist in the restoration, conservation and protection of our environment.

• Are you interested in helping make a difference?
• Become a volunteer
• Looking to revegetate your property?
• Interested in offsetting your carbon emissions ?
• Check out the carbon offset planting sites
• Support our work by joining or making a donation.

Please visit Trees For Life for more information on how you can make a REAL difference to the environment!

You can make a BIG difference simply by becoming a member. Your membership will contribute towards ecological sustainability in South Australia. More specifically, you will be helping save our local bushland, fauna and delicate eco-systems.

Please support the work of Trees For Life and make a REAL difference. Every dollar raised counts greatly, so tell your family and all your friends.

This Christmas, instead of buying a whole heap of homey presents, why not give the gift of a Tree? It certainly outlives most other gifts! Your gift will help protect and sustain native trees. The program is so cool that you can even monitor the growth of your tree (plantation site) online! Visit Trees For Life for details!!

Get the word out there – we have Way 2 Grow!!!

The podcast of Mark Lethbridge’s (Flinders University) presentation on “Identifying high value areas for revegetation”

SAMDB NRM Board’s Regional Science Forum on 29 November 2007 co-sponsored by the SAMDB NRM Board and the Centre for Natural Resource Science.

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