Come and join Hastings Landcare on Saturday the 17th June 2023 at Pembrooke for a workshop discussing how farm dams can support more wildlife and have improved water quality. The workshop will be hosted by Pembrooke Landholders, Hastings Landcare, Hastings Birdwatchers and Charles Sturt University Representatives. We will be talking about farm dam management, walking down to a dam site to see how it is managed, birdwatching down at the dam and learning about eDNA surveying with a focus on recent farm dam research.
Native vegetation around farm dams has many benefits for biodiversity, water quality and farm productivity. Hastings Landcare representative Steve Allwood says, “The humble farm dam can act like a biodiversity hotspot, wildlife corridor, and haven for wildlife if managed appropriately. Additionally, water quality for stock can be improved as vegetation reduces erosion, lowers water temperature, and filters water run off”. Managing farm dams for wildlife has many advantages to local biodiversity and water quality on your farm.
On the day we will do a wildlife walk down to see the dam. We will have Hastings Birdwatchers representative Les Mitchell to guide us and help with the bird spotting. Along the way we can see some of the key factors that make this dam much more suitable for wildlife. Healthy, well-vegetated dams can act more like a wetland providing habitat for insects, frogs, reptiles and birds. Well managed dams are patch wildlife corridors across the landscape and improve the overall habitat value of an area.
Learn about eDNA. Charles Sturt University Representative Dr. Jess Tout will be providing a review of the current studies in Australia and throughout the world that have assessed the biodiversity found in dams using eDNA. Dr. Jess says, "I am looking forward to meeting a diverse range of people who are keen to improve the biodiversity found in and around farm dams" . Technology can better help us care for our local environment.
Hastings Landcare welcomes everyone to the workshop free of charge. Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Numbers to this workshop are limited. Hastings Landcare works to nurture community connections, enhance the local environment, and support sustainable agriculture. This project is jointly funded by the Australian and the NSW governments under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund. To register contact 0467 864 465 or office@hastingslandcare.org.au. Otherwise register direct using the following link- https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/farm-dams-for-wildlife-workshop-tickets-648528364797
