MIA ENVIROWISE Biodiversity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the main objectives of MIA EnviroWise is to protect and enhance our natural resources.

This objective is primarily aimed at protecting remnant vegetation, wildlife and habitat corridors, Aboriginal heritage sites, rare or threatened species and ecological communities/critical habitats such as wetlands.

MIA EnviroWise runs a number of programs to achieve these aims which include developing Property Vegetation Plans with the Landholder and providing incentives when implementing Property Vegetation Plans. These Plans outline areas on farms for planting native trees and shrubs and management actions to protect existing remnant vegetation on-farm, as well as areas such as Barren Box Storage & Wetland, Mirrool Creek and wetlands throughout the area.

BioTender
MIA EnviroWise recently launched the Biodiversity Stewardship Scheme known as 'BioTender' to encourage landholders to protect and enhance the biodiversity of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area by providing annual stewardship payments for the maintenance and enhancement of the remnant vegetation on their property. The first round for BioTender was offered in May/June 2008 and has closed to applications. Subsequent rounds will be offered in the future and advise of closing dates and details will be advertised. More information


Photo by Earthcraft Photography

Barren Box Storage & Wetland
Murrumbidgee Irrigation is the caretaker of Barren Box Storage and Wetland, an 'icon' project in the MIA, which has the interim aim to "create an ecologically alive and diverse wetland that also respects, preserves and enhances the cultural significance of the area."
Read more.

  WETLAND REHABILITATION PLAN (2MB PDF)
  Appendix 1 Wetland Cultural Heritage Management Plan (392KB PDF)
  Appendix 2 Fire Management (475KB PDF)
  Appendix 3 Wetland Species (99KB PDF)
 


Pitfall Trap used to survey small animals

Biodiversity Monitoring
Biodiversity is the variety of all living things, including plants, animals and micro-organisms. MIA EnviroWise has a long term objective to improve the biodiversity and condition of the landscape and vegetation in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation area of operations.
Read more

   


Direct Seeding into grey clay

Vegetation Implementation Project
Property Vegetation Planning (PVP)
is an important component for shareholders completing the FarmWise education program under the MIA EnviroWise initiative with Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI). The aim of the property vegetation plan is to incorporate the principles of biodiversity into farm management practices. Landowners develop the PVP collaboratively with a Biodiversity Officer at MI. Read more

   


Photo by David Kleinert

Wetlands
There are many definitions of what a wetland is. Described simply, it is a place where land is saturated on a temporary or permanent basis and the habitat is part land, part water. Wetlands include lakes, rivers and floodplains, estuaries, swamps, bogs and freshwater marshes. They are not always wet; wetlands often go through a drying and wetting phase. Read more

 





Mirrool Creek
The project involves improving the flow in Mirrool Creek to improve the ability of Murrumbidgee Irrigation to deliver water to Barren Box Storage and Wetland, Mirrool Creek pumpers and downstream users. Additionally, the project aims to deliver improved biodiversity outcomes through the creation of a healthy biodiversity and vegetation corridor running through the middle of the MIA. Read more

 

 

 


MIA EnviroWise program has been made possible thanks to funding from the
Australian and NSW Government's National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.