Native Biodiversity Resource Kit - Environmental Management in Agriculture

On this page:

Who are we?
What did the pilot project achieve?
What do we mean by native biodiversity?
Native Biodiversity Resource Kit
Links to other sites

Imagine a new approach to farming that could assist production, sale of produce, environmental sustainability and conservation of Victoria's native biodiversity. By demonstrating their biodiversity conservation, Victorian producers may have an edge over their competitors that benefits them in the marketplace and back on the farm.

The 'Best Agricultural Practice for Native Biodiversity in Grazing Industries' pilot project investigated methodologies that Victorian graziers could use to assist with biodiversity management. A supporting Native Biodiversity Resource Kit has been developed to assist farmers to work towards improved conservation of native biodiversity.

The project has been supported by the Naturally Victorian and Our Rural Landscape initiatives of the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI).

Who are we?

This project is administered by the Biodiversity Conservation Strategies Section (Biodiversity and Natural Resources Division) of the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI).

What did the pilot project achieve?

The pilot study for this project was completed in February 2003.

Background information to inform decision-making and farm management has been collated for a number of case study properties throughout Victoria. The pilot study worked with twenty farms including dairy, meat and wool and mixed farm enterprises at Hamilton in south west Victoria, at Ellinbank and other sites in Gippsland and at Rutherglen and other sites in northern Victoria. The ethos behind the case study methodology is explained in a report documenting the approach: Incorporating Biodiversity into Environmental Management Systems for Victorian Agriculture - A discussion paper on developing a methodology for linking performance standards and management systems.

The pilot project:

developed practical methods to assist farmers to voluntarily adopt best agricultural practice for native biodiversity
provided information on achieving environmental sustainability to agriculture industries (which may be used by them to develop marketing strategies)
demonstrated a consistent statewide approach to achieving farming system sustainability for native biodiversity
raised awareness of, and changed attitudes to, the quality and extent of native biodiversity on private land.

Site information was gathered on the native flora and fauna present, current farm activities (in particular identifying which ones related to the native biodiversity assets) and on any activities that may have impacted on native biodiversity. Based on this information, actions were developed that indicate how the farm can achieve its native biodiversity targets.

The pilot study assessed the case study farms using a Environmental Management System (EMS) property management tool, which was coupled with minimum performance standards derived from the Catchment Management Authority (CMA) regional native vegetation plans and Victoria's Native Vegetation Management - a framework for action. Whilst an EMS addresses a range of 'environmental issues' including water quality, pollution, waste management and soils, the focus of this pilot project was on management issues that addresses native biodiversity conservation.

The pilot project captured the best of what is currently available to integrate native biodiversity within agricultural systems and established tools to identify the native biodiversity standards that land managers can use to monitor sustainable agricultural practices.

What do we mean by native biodiversity?

When we discuss native biodiversity we mean the plants, animals and ecosystems that are native to Victoria. This includes their genetic make-up (at the cellular level), the individual species and the ecosystems (relationships with each other and the environment) in which they occur. For additional information on native biodiversity in property management planning see the Living Systems Resource Kit.

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Environmental Management In Agriculture: Native Biodiversity Resource Kit

The Pilot Project lead to the development of a Resource Kit.

This Resource Kit will be useful to Victorian producers who are wanting to improve their environmental sustainability, who are interested in native biodiversity management or who are wanting to approach the management of their farm biodiversity assets in a systematic way.

This Resource Kit explains the practical steps a farmer may undertake to include native biodiversity as part of on-farm environmental management. It contains all the necessary instructions, advice and support materials to help train farmers in understanding most of the native biodiversity resources on their property and incorporating these elements within their management program.

Many people were involved in the production of this Resource Kit. Particular thanks are due to Jane McQueenie (Project Officer: Best Agricultural Practice for Native Biodiversity in Agriculture ) for her involvement in the initial conceptual framework for this Resource Kit and on-ground project delivery with the twenty case-study farmers. Her work was assisted by a Reference Group of representatives from the Victorian Farmers Federation, Landcare, World Wide Fund for Nature, Sustainable Grazing Systems, Australian Conservation Foundation, and the Victorian Departments of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI).

Major features of this publication include:

a flow-chart for dealing with native biodiversity (Introduction Text)
how the Resource Kit relates to ISO 14001 EMS (Introduction Text)
a self-assessment questionnaire for native biodiversity (Work Sheet 1)
instructions on how farmers can classify native vegetation into EVC groups and determine generalised conservation status (Work Sheet 3)
a vegetation self- assessment form (based on a range of generalised benchmarks) designed for farmers to assess the quality of any native habitat on their property (Work Sheet 4)
how to determine management targets based on Net Gain goal and the management actions linked to the vegetation self-assessment form (Work Sheet 6)
an introduction to the types of actions (based on ten key components) that a farmer may implement to improve the extent or quality of native vegetation on their property (Work Sheet 7)
twenty Fact Sheets that summarise key information and signpost other resources.

If you experience difficulty downloading any of these documents or require a CD ROM version please contact:

Andrew Straker, Policy Analyst,
Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI)
402-406 Mair Street, Ballarat, 3350
Phone (03) 5336 6716
Email: andrew.straker@dse.vic.gov.au

Introduction Text

0.1 Introduction [PDF File - 732.6 KB]

Work Sheets

EVC Group Score Sheets (including benchmarks for individual EVC Groups)

Download a single PDF of ALL EVC Group Score Sheets 01-21 [PDF File - 2.0 MB]

Fact Sheets

General

01. Frequently asked questions [PDF File - 200.5 KB]
02. Summary of native biodiversity benefits [PDF File - 408.8 KB]
03. Definitions: biodiversity and agriculture related [PDF File - 466.3 KB]
04. Victoria's native biodiversity management resources [PDF File - 334.9 KB]
05. Key references and websites [PDF File - 259.7 KB]
06. Victoria's Legislation and Policies [PDF File - 370.6 KB]

Environmental contacts

07. Statewide environmental contacts [PDF File - 506.9 KB]
08. Gippsland environmental contacts [PDF File - 312.6 KB]
09. North East environmental contacts [PDF File - 261.1 KB]
10. North West environmental contacts [PDF File - 256.7 KB]
11. Port Phillip environmental contacts [PDF File - 251.7 KB]
12. South West environmental contacts [PDF File - 338.3 KB]
13. Emergency incidents [PDF File - 275.8 KB]

Native Biodiversity Assessment

14. Defining conservation status of species and ecosystems [PDF File - 336.7 KB]
15. Professional contract brief - initial survey of native vegetation [PDF File - 227.1 KB]
16. Professional contract brief - full survey of native biodiversity [PDF File - 226.6 KB]
17. Professional report on native biodiversity - template [PDF File - 427.5 KB]

Native Biodiversity Targets

18. Setting targets [PDF File - 248.5 KB]

Native Biodiversity Actions

19. Determining management actions [PDF File - 361.5 KB]
20. Record keeping for monitoring [PDF File - 320.9 KB]

Download combined Fact Sheets:

Fact Sheets 01-06 General [PDF File - 1.2 MB]
Fact Sheets 07-13 Environmental Contacts [PDF File - 1.1 MB]
Fact Sheets 14-20 Assessment-Targets-Actions [PDF File - 1.1 MB]

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Links to other related sites

EMS information

Biodiversity resources

Biodiversity assessment

Other related DEPI sites:

Other related DPI sites:

Other Related Sites:

RIRDC - Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation - Environment Management Systems for Australian agriculture
The development of Environment Management Systems for Australian agriculture is an important contributor to sustainability and to future trading and marketing processes. RIR&DC, along with other corporations, underpins the development of internationally acceptable accreditation systems for sustainable agricultural production, environment management and new agri-industry systems.

DAFF - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry - Environment Management Systems
There is great potential for collaboration between government, industry and the community on production certification - integrating management and action. Adoption of EMS may assist Australian producers to maintain market access or gain new markets where consumers demand sustainably produced products. Growers who adopt production certification may not necessarily attract premiums - long term market access is the issue.

New South Wales Agriculture - New South Wales Agriculture NSW Agriculture is a State Government Department for agricultural research, advisory services, education and regulation and providing practical farm production solutions for profitable agriculture and for a better environment. See session 7 – EMS and Improving Environmental Outcomes for Agriculture.

Further information:

Anderson, S., Lowe, K., Preece, K. and Crouch, A., (2001). Incorporating Biodiversity into Environmental Management Systems for Victorian Agriculture—A discussion paper on developing a methodology for linking performance standards and management systems. Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI).

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Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.