Leader: Richard Fell, Tropical Savannas CRC and Northern Territory University

Project 5.2.2

Summary | Progress | Weed management | Fire management | Biodiversity and conservation | Grazing management | Associate Degree of Agriculture | Future directions |

Summary

This project aimed to answer the question: what are appropriate learning materials to enhance the skills and knowledge of tropical savanna land managers in sustainable use and conservation management? This translates into the broader purpose of ensuring the end-user is able to access information, knowledge and skills through learning products that satisfies their needs and enables them to apply this in their workplace.

The long-term objectives of the project were to:

1. develop and deliver appropriate and relevant learning materials/packages to meet the needs of the six stakeholder sectors: pastoral, Aboriginal, conservation, tourism, mining and defence and all stakeholders of the TS-CRC;
2. have landholders and users understand the management practices inherent from the research undertaken in the four themes of the TS-CRC: landscape processes, ecosystem management, north Australia landscape and human capability development;
3. have landholders and users adopt appropriate technology under the themes of fire, weeds, grazing sustainability and conserving biodiversity to meet their needs;
4. extend the research output from the TS-CRC and elsewhere, through delivery of an interactive, integrated series of activities and material to the end-users of the tropical savannas; and
5. design and apply appropriate monitoring and evaluation procedures to enable progress to be measured and evaluated.

Progress

Weed management

Three learning packages and materials on weed management were developed this year. They were:

• video on weeds management in Aboriginal lands;
• weed identification deck for the top end; and
• weed management case studies.

A video on weed management resulting from the research in Aboriginal communities was largely completed by July 2001. The video aims to raise awareness about the spread of invasive weeds on Aboriginal land in northern Australia, with a focus on mimosa. It involved collaboration between the Northern Territory Departments of Lands, Planning & Environment, Primary Industry & Fisheries, the Northern Land Council, Northern Territory University, Parks Australia North and the Parks & Wildlife Commission of the NT. Final editing is being undertaken and the video should be ready for distribution by late 2001.

Support was gained from the NLC and NTDPIF for a proposed pocket guide on weed identification and control for two Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Fifteen weeds of significance in the tropical savannas of the Northern Territory were selected. This project was placed on hold pending a review of the Centre's extension program.

Several case studies on weed management were written. These were published in QDPI's Prime Notes series on CD-ROM. They are also available on the TS-CRC'S website. Weed Management-case studies will also feature in the Burdekin Management Case Study's 'Green Book'.

Fire management

Learning package and materials on fire management fall under the following headings:

• Fire management book;
• Case studies of practical fire management.

The book Savanna Burning: Understanding and Using Fire in Northern Australia was published at the end of 2001, and featured a number of fire-management case studies assembled by this project. The property case studies were written to illustrate the book with real situations.

Fire-management case studies will also appear in the Grazing Land Management learning packages.

Grazing management

A major project is also under way to develop learning packages and materials in grazing land management/sustainability. Meat and Livestock Australia commissioned a learning package in Grazing Land Management (GLM) which was developed and pilot-tested.

The market research for grazing land management by the MLA identified pasture species, stocking rates and assessment of pasture as high priorities to ensure sustainable land use. Fire behaviour and fire as a management tool were identified as areas that pastoralists wanted more information about, as well as weeds and weed management.

The Development Consortium which wrote and tested the package included TS-CRC, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, CSIRO and NTDPIF. The project gained approval from all key agencies in Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory.

The literature available on the TS-CRC web-based clearinghouse (around 1800 papers and reports) was audited and assigned to the 25 topics to be included in the GLM. The TS-CRC is also a member of the Quality Functions Deployment Reference Group which will enable development of the GLM as a distance education /interactive learning module.

Data are being collected and analysed on weed control, feral animal control, fire management and soil erosion management from properties in the VRD to form the benchmark for future work with the VRD Conservation Association.

Biodiversity and conservation

Learning packages and materials on biodiversity and conservation were developed. Sarah Moon, was employed by the Centre to assemble a learning module for pastoralists entitled Biodiversity in a Pastoral Setting. The module looks at what constitutes a 'healthy savanna' by identifying indicators of savanna health and explores some of the ways these could be monitored in a pastoral setting.

Associate Degree in Tropical Agriculture

The TS-CRC helped to design and will help deliver a new degree course in Tropical Agriculture based at the NT Rural College. The new course has three themes: Extension and Communication, Grazing Land and Animal Management and Healthy Savannas. The latter will build on the TS-CRC's work and the Grazing Land and Animal Management theme will use the GLM package to define a course that is different and northern in outlook.

Future directions

In May 2002, Prof. Ian Falk was appointed new leader to the Human Capability Development Theme and new Chair in Distance Education at Northern Territory University. Prof. Falk will review the Extension, Vocational Education and Training project.