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Creating and enhancing green spots in the arid zone of western NSW, Australia
Author
Theakston, P
Dohnt, B
Publisher
XII International Rangeland Congress
Publication Year
2025
Body

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.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Additional Information
This paper is part of the larger XII International Rangelands Congress Proceedings. Page Numbers: 793-798. Theme: Theme 4 / Water ecology and management in rangelands
ISSN
978-0-646-72121-7
Conference Name
International Rangeland Congress
Collection
International Rangelands Congress
Keywords
green spots
rangeland rehabilitation
habitat