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From the Chairman, The Mulloon Institute
While there are many words starting with
'A' that I could have used to describe our activities during April,
'agile' in particular comes to mind, I decided to 'cheat' just a little in calling this month's update
'A Zooming April'. I probably don't need to explain why, as I'm sure many of you have been in exactly the same boat - participating in one 'Zoom Meeting' after another. A quick perusal of my diary shows my Zoom total was seventeen for the month!
[Image - Meandering road at MCNF, Credit - Nicholas Samartis]
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Global Evergreening Alliance
Restore Australia is an initiative being progressed by the
Global Evergreening Alliance (GEA) which has about $300M from international donors to
restore degraded lands across Australia and sequester carbon over the next five years. This is significant funding directed to the Australian landscape and TMI has been privileged to be invited to participate. Through the development of this project I have also been part of a Technical Advisory Board overseeing the structure of the program to be followed.
Read more
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Leaky weir at the Palerang property |
Mulloon Rehydration Initiative
Also making further progress during April was our Mulloon catchment scale project. Previously known as the
Mulloon Community Landscape Rehydration Project (MCLRP), it will now be referred to as the
Mulloon Rehydration Initiative (MRI). While still remaining a project, we also want to emphasise how this 'initiative' can be implemented in other landscapes across Australia.
To date, 14 leaky weirs have been installed in
Stage 1 of the MRI,
over the 3.5 km stretch of Mulloon Creek running from the Mulloon Road crossing to the Kings Highway. Another 18 structures have been installed so far in
Stage 2
across a further 4 km of the creek on the Palerang and Duralla properties. All up we will be installing close to 100 structures along the creek with a total of five stages planned. Read more (including videos!)
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Science & monitoring
Luke Peel (Research Coordinator) and James Diack (Science Officer) this month have been monitoring the permanent transects using
Landscape Function Analysis at the Home Farm (
MCNF), Mulloon Farm North and Birkenburn. A new development is the use of a
plate meter to measure pasture biomass that assists with calibrating the satellite monitoring products by
Cibolabs. The new drone has also been used to capture photos of the transects with excellent detail.
Read more
Progress is also well underway in finalising quotes for the integrated monitoring system, with Luke, Nolani McColl (Science Officer), Tony Bernardi (Hydrologist) and the technical advisory group investigating suitable options for stream gauges, soil moisture sensors, ground water monitoring and climate stations. Once installed, data from these devices will be telemeted (mobile network) back to a central data management platform and be accessible by landholders, researchers and the broader public. Purchasing and commissioning for the monitoring equipment will be underway in May and June.
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Cam Wilson reviewing erosion at Bellmount Forest, NSW |
Mulloon Consulting Contracting & Certifying
MCCC has also zoomed along during April (all while adhering to COVID-19 restrictions), with site visits and assessments in the Dungog, Hunter and Southern Tableland regions, farm plans completed for several private properties, plus Zoom conferences promoting our landscape rehydration services.
Read more
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Sam Skeat joins MCCC
Sam Skeat has recently joined MCCC as one of our valued Landscape Planners, bringing specialist skills in grazing management in the context of landscape rehydration. His main area of focus is on balancing ecological return and business return when undertaking landscape rehydration projects. On top of his understanding of how grazing management can be used to build natural capital he also has an excellent understanding of landscape processes and how to use rehydration design to rebuild degraded areas into functional productive landscapes.
Sam's first task will be to develop a grazing management plan for Mulloon Creek Natural Farms.
Read more
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Aftermath - Landtasia North Black Range Fire 2019 |
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Bushfire inquiries
During April, the Mulloon Institute made submissions to both the NSW Inquiry into the Bushfires and to the Federal Royal Commission. In addition, I made personal submissions to both Inquiries from the perspective of being the Chairman of a Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into the Australian Bushfires in 2003. That Inquiry produced a report, A Nation Charred, which included some 59 recommendations. Sadly, many of the issues raised back in 2003 were still quite relevant in relation to experiences during the 2019/2020 fires. Read more
Thanks to landholder Richard Graham of Landtasia Organic Farms who kindly shared this footage showing how this summer's fires and consequent flooding rains have affected the landscape on his 'Landtasia' property, situated between Mulloon Creek Natural Farms' 'Home Farm' and the Tallaganda National Park. This property is part of the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative but has not yet had any on-ground works undertaken.
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Mulloon Creek Natural Farms
MCNF also had 'A Zooming April' with eggs being almost as popular as toilet paper in supermarkets! Fortunately, the output growth of our organic, pastured, free-range eggs found a growing demand from old and new customers.
Harris Farm Markets have been amazingly supportive and it was satisfying being able to respond to theirs and other stockists' requirements during this challenging time.
* MCNF eggs are currently featuring in various episodes of '
Good Chef Bad Chef', screening on weekdays at 4pm on Channel 10.
You can find out where our eggs are sold in NSW and ACT by visiting the
MCNF website.
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Field Day at Mulloon Creek Natural Farms |
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Post COVID-19 opportunities
As I update our April activities, there is some light at the end of the tunnel with governments at both the Federal and State levels softening some restrictions. The impact of the past six weeks on our economy and on how we go about life will last for a very long time. But with every crisis comes opportunities. Australia's agricultural sector will be a leader in our economic recovery as food and fibre has continued to be produced. When supply chains are fully operating, as restrictions are removed, some form of normal trading should commence quite quickly.
What 'normal' actually looks like post COVID-19 remains to be seen. However, I think there will be a greater emphasis from the population on the source of their food, the nutritional value of it and on the environment. Repaired, rehydrated and naturally functioning landscapes working with regenerative farming practices not only protects and enhances our environment it helps produce the nutritional food we seek.
The Mulloon Institute is positioning itself to meet the expected growth in demand for our on-site works, our education and training and the scientific monitoring. As a supporter of TMI you can once again assist us in expanding our work nationally by giving a fully tax-deductible donation. You can donate here. All donations go directly to on-ground repair and rehydration works or for educating and training landholders in hands-on practical workshops. With your help we can do so much more to fix degraded landscapes and make our agricultural land more resilient to drought, flood and fire.
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Mulloon Rehydration Initiative - Stage 1 - Westview Farm leaky weir |
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As we zoom into May thank you for your interest and support. Keep safe and well and I hope I'll be reporting again at the end of May on a much more normal operating environment.
Cheers,
Gary Nairn AO
The Mulloon Institute, Chairman
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