Landscape Rehydration Trial & Demonstration, WA Wheatbelt

The Mulloon Institute has won a WA Community Stewardship Grant to plan and implement landscape rehydration works to restore landscape function on three properties in the agricultural areas of WA. 

Rehydration works will be implemented on properties preferably encompassing a single sub-catchment, across all landscape zones (ridgeline to valley floor). The objectives are to introduce landscape rehydration to WA farmers through workshops, implementing and modifying the concepts to suit the WA landscape (in particular addressing salinity issues) and demonstrate the benefits of landscape rehydration to agricultural productivity and its assets (soil, water) and the natural environment.

An initial workshop is planned for 14 July at the Muresk Institute near Northam, 1.5 hrs north-east of Perth. The workshop will be led by Peter Hazell. 

Peter Hazell presenting at Mulloon.

During that visit, seven properties will be visited by Mulloon Consulting landscape planners (with one who is based in WA) to assess them for inclusion in the WA Community Stewardship grant. Of these, three will be chosen for detailed landscape rehydration design and construction works and six will have regenerative management plans/frameworks prepared. This will include consulting with landholders on their needs and issues in terms of grazing management, cropping management, plant identification/use and land management objectives. 

A total of seven workshops or field days will take place to build the capacity of landholders and local Landcare members to understand the benefits that landscape rehydration and regenerative land management measures can bring to agricultural land in the Wheatbelt over the three years of the grant.