Managing and monitoring for improved biodiversity outcomes using state-and-transition models

Project start date: 01/07/2024
Project end date: 30/06/2027
NESP funding: $858,203 (GST-exclusive)

Agricultural landscapes in Australia have historically been places of ecological decline. Habitat loss and fragmentation from land clearing, overgrazing by livestock and feral herbivores, inappropriate fire regimes and weed invasion in remnant vegetation are among the factors that pose challenges for conservation in these landscapes. Yet agricultural landscapes retain important conservation values, and new incentives for nature-positive outcomes will provide opportunities for changes in farm management that improve biodiversity outcomes.

The vulnerable red-lored whistler (Pachycephala rufogularis) is a mallee specialist. Photo JJ Harrison CC BY-SA 3.0.

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This project is developing state-and-transition models, interactive maps and practical decision-support tools to help land managers understand how ecosystems change and identify actions that can maintain or improve their condition.

The research brings together two complementary areas:

• investigating how changes to grazing and fertiliser management can improve biodiversity in working agricultural landscapes without compromising farm production or profitability
• safeguarding Mallee birds and their habitats in the Murray Darling Depression.

Limestone Coast state-and-transition models

State-and-transition models of the agricultural zone: flooding red gum woodland, lowland resprouting woodland and sedgelands.

Read the report

Mallee Woodlands state-and-transition models

State and transition models for Mallee Woodlands of the Murray Darling Depression of south-east Australia.

Read the report

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Understanding how ecosystems change

State-and-transition models describe the different condition states in which an ecosystem can occur and the processes that move it from one condition state to another.

For example, an ecosystem may transition from a relatively intact state to a modified or highly modified state because of grazing, clearing, weeds, changed fire regimes or altered hydrology. Management actions such as controlling grazing, restoring vegetation, managing fire or improving hydrological conditions may support recovery.

By bringing this information together, the models can help land managers:

• recognise ecosystem condition
• understand the pressures driving change
• identify possible degradation and recovery pathways
• compare management options
• plan monitoring, restoration and conservation activities.

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Interactive maps

Explore Mallee vegetation, bird habitat suitability, landscape condition and grazing pressure across the “Living Landscapes” case study region.

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Improving biodiversity in working agricultural landscapes

The project is investigating how changes to fertiliser and grazing management may help agricultural ecosystems transition to higher biodiversity condition states.

Research is taking place across approximately 10–12 farms in each of three regions:

• Tasmanian Midlands
• Western Victorian Volcanic Plains
• Limestone Coast.

The research compares paddocks with different histories of fertiliser use and grazing management. It measures ecosystem condition and biodiversity indicators, including plants, selected invertebrate groups, bats, birds and soils.

The findings will be used to update and validate regionally specific state-and-transition models and develop:

• a monitoring framework for assessing ecosystem condition in production areas
• practical advice for landholders seeking to improve biodiversity and landscape resilience
• stronger evidence for sustainability reporting, natural-capital accounting and emerging nature markets.

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How the research supports conservation action

The project’s models, reports and interactive maps will help land managers and decision-makers understand how management affects biodiversity and ecosystem condition.

The research can support:

• Mallee bird habitat management
• grazing, fire and vegetation management planning
• restoration planning
• biodiversity and natural-capital monitoring on farms
• assessment of changes to farming practices
• biodiversity incentives, nature markets and sustainability reporting.

By linking management actions with ecological outcomes, the project will support better conservation and sustainable agriculture decisions.

 

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  Endangered Mallee emu-wren (Stipiturus mallee). David Cook CC-BY-NC 2.0
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  Endangered Mallee striated grasswren (Amytornis striatus howei). David Cook CC-BY-NC 2.0
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  Endangered Mallee (white-bellied) whipbird (Psophodes leucogaster leucogaster). Laurie Boyle CC-BY-SA 2.0
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  Vulnerable Eastern regent parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides). David Cook CC-BY-NC 2.0
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  Endangered black-eared miner (Manorina melanotis). David Cook CC-BY-NC 2.0
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  Vulnerable malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata). patrickkavanagh CC-BY 2.0
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  Redgum open forest in south-west Victoria. Photo: Alex Maisey.
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  Farmland in Tasmanian midlands. Photo: Alex Maisey.
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  An aerial view of fields in Victora. Photo: Alex Maisey.
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  Cattle grazing in south-west Victoria. Photo: Alex Maisey.