Arid zone biodiversity adheres to a boom-bust cycle. During periods of ample surface water and vegetation, species reproduce quickly and spread across the landscape (boom period). In contrast, during extended dry periods (bust period), species numbers decline and retreat to locations that remain moist, called "green spots". Green spots vary in size and extent, from individual landscape features, such as gilgais, ephemeral wetlands and creek line waterholes to extensive healthy floodplains. Widespread degradation occurred in the arid zone of western NSW between the period of the 1890s to the late 1940s, creating legacy erosion issues. Present day degradation occurs to a lesser degree, which impacts on green spots, reducing their size and extent. This project created and /or enhanced green spots on six pastoral properties in arid western NSW, creating a total of 37 localised green spots and rehydrating 850 ha of floodplain. Rangeland rehabilitation earthworks were used in an expanded way to create more persistent green spots, rather than solely for groundcover establishment for pastoralism.
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