Biodiversity & Native Vegetation
Biodiversity is a shortening of the two words biological and diversity. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms including the different plants, animals and micro organisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems they form. It is usually considered at three different levels: ecosystem diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity.
The biodiversity of the Lachlan catchment contributes significantly to the economy providing a basis for agricultural production such as foods, fibre, fertilisers and other chemicals, genetic material and even some medical materials. These are 'direct values' of biodiversity. The biodiversity in the catchment supports maintenance of essential ecosystem services such as the water cycle and provision of clean air. These are 'indirect values' of maintaining a biologically diverse and healthy catchment.
In addition, the biodiversity of the Lachlan has an unquantifiable 'future value'. This could be for uses of species or genetic diversity yet to be discovered. As social values change, what is not valued today might be more highly valued in the future. Therefore the Lachlan CMA recognises the importance of maintaining the biodiversity assets of the catchment for future generations.
Evidence is growing to support the benefits of native vegetation to both on farm production and the broader catchment area. The Lachlan CMA has developed the Vegetation Management program to work with the community to increase the area and condition of vegetation in the Lachlan catchment. The Vegetation Management program targets include the protection of remnant vegetation, riparian vegetation and cultural heritage sites and encourages revegetation and strategic vegetation plantings to reduce the effects of salinity. More specifically, targets under this program broadly consider the three topics of native vegetation, threatened species, and weeds and pest animals. Targets for native vegetation intend to 'protect and maintain' or 'improve' the condition of endangered ecological communities, high conservation value vegetation and priority habitats. Targets addressing threatened species are aimed at controlling or reducing threats impacting on ecological communities. Targets for weeds and pest animals are intended to reduce their distribution and impact through a collaborative approach to the management of invasive species. Since landholders are already required by law to control all noxious weeds, priorities for investment will be directed towards environmental weeds or areas where they occur together.