Ensuring we manage our land (such as our soils, water catchments and biodiversity) in a sustainable way is essential for the future of Eyre Peninsula’s industry, economy and environment.
Effective land management such as erosion control, protecting native vegetation, managing pest plants and animals and controlling salinity are some of the fundamental activities carried out by the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board.
Biodiversity
Eyre Peninsula boasts approximately 2,187,560 ha of native vegetation – some 45% of the pre-European extent. Forty four percent (44%) of this native vegetation is protected in government reserves or by heritage agreements. Grazing, clearing, introduced plants and animals, fire and salinity are contributing to the degradation and fragmentation of this vegetation.
The Eyre Peninsula region is at the western limit to a range of eastern Australian species and eastern limit to many western Australian species making it a very important link between two sides of the country. The relative isolation of the region (by sea and lands to the north) has also allowed a high degree of endemism to develop (characteristic to the Eyre Peninsula region only). As a result, Eyre Peninsula is now formally recognised as one of 27 priority areas across Australia for its high endemism.
Soil Conservation
The Eyre Peninsula NRM Board, in partnership with community groups, has a number of programs underway addressing soils conservation issues. These include projects which reduce erosion problems, control salinity and look at mixed farming systems within agricultural practices. Sustainable agriculture practices which ensure profitable crop yields and stock produce along with protecting biodiversity is a key goal of many of the Board’s programs.
Management of Pests
Pest plants and animals are major causes of ongoing land degradation and their control is fundamental to sustainable land management. Weeds and pest animals are some of the biggest threats to Australia’s biodiversity and also a major cost to the national agricultural sector.
The Eyre Peninsula NRM Board invests funding and employs staff (Authorised Officers) to ensure pest animals and plants are managed and controlled effectively. There are region-wide programs for agricultural and environmental weed control, integrated pest management and scientific investigations.