Sustainability

We are touching the tip of the iceberg.

Only a small proportion each year

INS infestation

hectares affected

In 1969 it was evaluated that 40% of the Cobar peneplain's  7.5 million hectares (3 million ha), was affected by Invasive Native Scrub. It has had 50 years to expand since then.

75km Around Cobar

tonnes

At 40% infestation It is estimated there is approximately 24 million tonnes of Invasive Native Scrub in a 75 km radius around Cobar

100 years

at
tonnes/yr

At 250,000 tonnes/yr removal it will take 100 years to remove INS in this 75km radius, longer than the time it took for the problem to evolve in the first place.

Invasive Native Scrub

Pre white settlement the Cobar peneplain bioregion was predominantly open grassed woodland.  Through pastoralists actions native woody plant species came to dominate the ecosystems. This dominance results in soil degradation, soil acidity, reduction of ecosystem diversity and agricultural productivity.

The only way to commence the restoration of grassed woodlands is to mechanically remove the scrub. Then there is the process of encouraging the grasses and herb species to grow back.

Now

All clearing and removal of biomass and timber is under government approvals

ISO 14000
%
Other schemes
%

Certification

We are in the process of obtaining environmental certification for the INS removal and its resulting products. We will be implementing ISO 14000 which is the same international management certification used in Australia's forestry industry.

ISO14000 is an objective measure of environmental management and less open to local 'interpretations' of other certification schemes.

Research

We wish to partner with research organisations in the areas of

 Natural Environment

  • Biodiversity changes with INS restoration (flora and fauna)
  • Longitudinal studies of vegetation changes, INS succession
  • The best rehabilitation strategies for both agricultural and biodiversity outcomes

Agricultural economics

  • Return on investment for landholders as a result of INS removal and subsequent farm activity
  • Changing land use as a result of INS removal and land restoration
  • Long term control methods of INS and farm profitability and biodiversity

Legislative environment

  • Effectiveness of current legislative regulations when compared to the practicalities of harvesting and regeneration in relation to economics and biodiversity outcomes