A wetland inventory undertaken in the Murray region in 2010 found that one third of wetlands in the region have been cleared of native vegetation. The extent of clearing, along with changes to water regimes and grazing, is reducing both the capacity of wetlands to store carbon and maintain biodiversity values.
The Murray Wetland Carbon Storage project aims to assist landholders to rehabilitate wetlands to increase their capacity to store carbon and improve biodiversity. It is a partnership project between Murray Local Land Services (Murray LLS) and the Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group Ltd. (MDWWG), funded by the Australian Government’s Biodiversity Fund. The MDWWG is an empowered not-for-profit community group that has a proven history of achievement in wetland rehabilitation and management.
Increasing carbon through improved management and landholder partnerships
Drawing on expertise in wetland management, the project is providing ‘fit for purpose’ funding to support landholders in on-ground wetland management activities. Activities have been designed to provide carbon storage and increase biodiversity through on-ground works to rehabilitate degraded wetlands and enhance existing wetland and riparian vegetation. On-ground activities are tailored to suit each wetland site and may involve:
the planting of mixed local wetland, riparian and terrestrial vegetation;
altering grazing management with or without fencing (permanent or temporary);
pest and weed control;
environmental water delivery where appropriate and feasible; and
resources such as interpretative signage, bird hides, stewardship visits etc.
The goal of the project is to establish 400 hectares of biodiverse and high-efficiency wetland carbon stores across the NSW Murray region through its first Investment Round (2013-2014), with a total of 2,000 hectares to be delivered overall by June 2017.
The first Investment Round targeted wetlands in the Murray LLS Central Region (Map 1). The target area was identified through technical consultation, recommendations from the Wetland Inventory undertaken in 2010, and the identification of over-cleared landscapes in the Murray Biodiversity Management Plan 2013. Wetlands in other parts of the Murray region will be included in future Investment Rounds, with the second Investment Round planned for July 2014 (subject to Commonwealth Government funding).
Murray Wetland Carbon Storage 2013-14 Priority Investment Area - Murray LLS
Murray Wetland Carbon Storage 2013-14 Priority Investment Area – Murray LLS
Management agreements for a minimum period of 10 years that are on title will be entered into by each participating landowner, allowing for the opportunity to investigate initial improvements to carbon storage and biodiversity.
Wetland diversity
Twenty-five wetland sites were visited by Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group Ltd. and Murray LLS staff during the projects planning phase. A total of sixteen sites have progressed through to the projects first Investment Program, providing a diverse range of vegetation types, condition, and improved management opportunities. Sites are located in the Balldale, Corowa, Jerilderie, Savernake and Urana areas and cover an area over 1,000 hectares. The wetlands comprise vegetation types such as: river red gum and grey box both with grassy understorey, canegrass, sedges/rushes/grasses, and lignum. Sites are of varying size ranging from 15 to 420 hectares, with a mixture of applied management practices including a gravel quarry, Travelling Stock Reserves and grazing for sheep and cattle.
Sites selected for investment show potential for improved carbon storage with evidence of an existing or known native seedbank, diverse vegetation community and/or habitat complexity; favourable hydrological connectivity (with a low chance of being flushed or scoured and losing carbon). Other criteria considered were the identification of wetland local champions and the opportunity for sites to be used to demonstrate NRM benefits to the wider community.
Monitoring carbon dynamics
In addition to on-ground works, the project is delivering a ‘Wetland Carbon Dynamics Monitoring Program’ to determine the following:
sediment/soil carbon dynamics respond in wetlands during and after rehabilitation; and
biodiversity responses in wetlands after rehabilitation.
The monitoring program also aims to develop recommendations for wetland management for carbon storage benefits with biodiversity benefits.
Carbon pools will be measured during the wet phase of selected sites to demonstrate any changes in carbon pools, followed by a series of measures of carbon pools immediately after drying. It is anticipated that the same method will be applied annually for a further three years to assist in providing longer-term monitoring information on rehabilitation of wetlands for carbon outcomes.
Delivered by The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, the first Investment Round monitoring program will be completed by 30 June 2014.
Further information
For further information on the project please visit the following websites:
www.murraydarlingwetlands.com.au
Or contact:
Sarah Ning (Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group) 0427 376 157, sarahning@murraydarlingwetlands.com.au
Nicky Bruce (Murray Local Land Services) (02) 6051 2232, nicky.bruce@lls.nsw.gov.au
