ENVIRONMENTAL
When Harvey Gillam signed more than 35 hectares of his Tenterden property in a sharefarm agreement with FPC in 2002, he did so for different reasons.
“Salinity in this area is a problem that is just going to get worse if we don’t do something about it, so that was probably the main driver. Coming a close second was a chance to make additional income from land that was basically unproductive. Put the two together, and it was a pretty easy decision to make,” says Harvey.
“I’m confident we’ve taken an important step in the right direction to maintain the property’s long-term viability” |
Salinity is caused by the removal of deep rooted natural vegetation and poses a major threat to the agricultural regions of Western Australia. It is estimated that up to 4 million hectares may be salinity affected by 2050, including all inland water supplies. Up to 450 species are at risk of extinction and apart from loss of farmland productivity there is also significant threat to infrastructure. Reforestation of farmland through integrated farm forestry will help address this major problem.
The tree areas on Harvey's are mainly planted to Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) on deeper free draining soils, sugar gum (E. cladocalyx) on heavier soils, with swamp sheoak (Casuarina obesa) and swamp yate (E. occidentalis) providing planting options right down to the salt scald.
Harvey says tree farming also works in well with his main business of sheep and cropping.
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Harvey Gillam showing a hands-on approach.
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“Some fencing is needed at the outset to keep stock away from the young trees, but after three years they can be let in. That provides shelter from rain and frosts, there’s grazing between the rows and they can even help by pruning the lower shoots,” he says. Further plantings have followed the original 35 hectares, and an additional 100 planned for 2007 will bring total plantings under the STF program to 282 hectares.
Formal monitoring of the effect on salinity is ongoing and Harvey says visual evidence suggests the spread of salinity has definitely been slowed.
Tree farming is also an important strategy for offsetting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Through the process of photosynthesis trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), storing the carbon in new growth and releasing oxygen. Around 50% of the dry weight of plant material is carbon.
“I’m confident we’ve taken an important step in the right direction to maintain the property’s long-term viability,” he says.
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