Grassland Beyond Reserves

Friends of Grasslands convened a workshop on 1 -2 December 2000 in Cooma to consider off reserve conservation, its potential to integrate effective conservation with agriculture and evaluate experience to date. Speakers included private landholders, public land managers, government agencies, scientists, and community groups. Given the diversity of grasslands, ownership arrangements, stakeholders, management skills and tools, the workshop addressed how those involved can share their experience and skills and keep in touch. Day one focused on presentations and day two on visits to three local sites.

Printed proceedings from the Grassland Beyond the Reserve workshop are still available, free except for a charge to cover postage.  To order or for more information: please email booksales@fog.org.au.

The proceedings contain a wealth of information and come highly recommended for anyone interested in grassy ecosystem conservation and management outside the traditional systems of national parks and similar reserved lands.

For ACT residents, Sarah Sharp's paper is a must-read for an understanding of the ACT Government's active grassland management program.

Friends of Grasslands' paper provides a good understanding of what is happening in grassland conservation and describes FoG's approaches, experiences and successes.

NSW Government agencies, NPWS and DLWC, are major players in grassy ecosystem conservation and their papers put their work into perspective.

Experiences in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Riverina provide valuable insights into approaches being tried elsewhere.

The three case studies illustrate how farmers, local government, and rural lands protection boards see their role. The presentation by the NSW Farmers Association and the opening address illustrate how farming and conservation values interact.

Proceedings

Cover and contents

Introduction

Opening address

Grassland conservation in farmers' hands: is grassland conservation compaitible with farming?
Matthew Crozier

Off-reserve conservation: background, visioin and philosophy for community-based conservation
Roger Good

Off-reserve conservation of land, water and vegetation
David Thompson

A 'state' agency case study in off-reserve conservation: grassy ecosystem protection and management in the Australian Capital Territory
Sarah Sharp

Views from other regions

A few Victorian experiences of mechanisms for conservaion of grassy ecosystem remnants
Helen Ryan

Vision and experience of the Mid-north Region, South Australia
Ann Prescott & Millie Nicholls

Western Region, New South Wales
Michael Dunn

Identifying and conserving quality grassy vegetation
Geoff Robertson, Michael Treanor & David Eddy

Case studies in grassland conservation

Balancing traditional uses and conservation in travelling stock reserves
Winston Phillips

'Radio Hill' and Cooma-Monaro Shire Council involvement
Peter Beer

'Happy Valley' combining the preservation of cultural and natural history
Kate Locker & Neville Locker

What funding assistance is available to land managers?
Rebecca Cole

Appendixes

A Workshop displays

B 'Bush for Wildlife' National Coordinator
Sally Stephens

C About the presenters

D Tables and maps for session 4
Sarah Sharp