Monaro Landscape Connectivity project

Having received some good interest from people at the workshop in Bungendore on 1 December, particularly from around Carwoola - Captain's Flat - Hoskinstown, the project team is now planning to hold the first MLC workshop in this area.

The details for the workshop are not yet finalised, but at this stage expect a 1-day workshop in the Captains Flat valley (ideally on the property of an interested landholder) in late April or early May. The workshop will help land managers to get a better understanding of native vegetation on their property, and also to look at managing it in the context of its connectivity to surrounding patches, through aerial photos and maps (which we will provide for all attendees) of native vegetation types across the landscape around their individual properties. There will also be sessions on Indigenous land management principles, and how people can begin to apply these on their property, if they are interested.

Following the workshop, interested land managers can receive advice and support from the three partners in the project (MLi, K2C and the CMA), and may also choose to apply for incentive funding through the project, to assist them to better manage native vegetation on their properties. The project team can also provide species lists for their property, and a Management Plan with recommendations to assist them in managing their native vegetation.

The Captains Flat workshop will be the first of six workshops to be held over the coming 18 months, at various locations across the Monaro. The exact location of workshops will be dependent on the EOIs received, but the aim is to ensure good coverage over the Monaro.

The Monaro Landscape Connectivity project aims to work with land managers to actively manage patches of native vegetation across the Monaro region in the Murrumbidgee catchment. Interested land managers can also be involved in the application of Indigenous land management practices on their property, and participate in digital PlaceStories.

What is available to land managers?

Participating land managers will be offered support and advice to actively manage patches of native vegetationon their properties, from the three partner organisations delivering the project - Murrumbidgee Landcare, Kosciuszko to Coast and the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA).

Participating land managers can also receive a management plan, or enter into an agreement with the Murrumbidgee CMA to receive incentive funding to assist them in managing native vegetation on their property, including:

Fencing to manage stock access;
Strategic planting of native trees and shrubs; and
Controlling exotic plants.

The Monaro Landscape Connectivity project will also assist interested land managers to apply Indigenous land management practices and participate in a short digital film using PlaceStories™.

Who is eligible to participate?

All land managers (public or private land) across the Monaro region within the Murrumbidgee catchment are eligible to participate, subject to the following criteria (to receive incentive funding):

The nominated patch of native vegetation should be greater than 10 ha (or 5 ha for grassland vegetation);
The nominated patch of native vegetation should be located within the project area (see map in the Information Sheet, below); and
The nominated patch of native vegetation is not currently or has not previously received funding for its management from another project.

Preference will be given to patches of native vegetation that are connected (within 1 km) of another area of native vegetation (woody or grassland). This connectivity is important as it allows native species to move between areas of habitat for foraging and breeding.