The rangelands of NSW depend on rainfall driven native pastures to support privately managed grazing operations. The Perennial Pastures, Resilient Rangelands project aims to improve drought resilience by managing for biodiverse pastures with a focus on establishing and managing perennial species. Utilising a community of practice approach, landholders near White Cliffs collaborated with scientists and advisors to identify priority areas for restoration and implement innovative strategies to increase key perennial species. The group selected a stony plain on Yalda Downs north of White Cliffs and the landowner agreed to implement a demonstration site to trial regeneration strategies chosen by the group. Water ponding has been successfully demonstrated to improve scalded soils with low water infiltration, providing opportunities for seedling establishment leading to increased vegetation cover and plant diversity. However, establishment of key perennial grass and shrub species in these ponds is often limited. At Yalda Downs ripping, seeding of perennial grass and shrub species, and grazing exclosure treatments within water ponds were established in August 2023. Multiple rainfall events in early 2024 assisted with the early germination of perennial species (inc. Astrebla spp., Panicum decompositum, Chloris truncata) in the seeded treatments. The effectiveness of this trial is being monitored and species counts have shown establishment of sown seed and additional perennial species.
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