Corangamite landholder’s 50,000 tree and shrub eco plan up for Bob Hawke Landcare Award
MEDIA RELEASE
26/07/2021
Corangamite landholder’s 50,000 tree and shrub eco plan up for Bob Hawke Landcare Award
A Corangamite landholder living on the fringes of the Otway Ranges is set to represent VIC for the Bob Hawke Landcare Award.
Announced at the 2021 National Landcare Awards next month, Andrew Stewart’s environmental and sustainable agricultural advancements on Yan Yan Gurt West Farm, a 230-hectare regenerative grazing and agroforestry property, including the establishment of 50,000 trees and shrubs, increasing woody vegetation across the farm from 3 per cent to 18 per cent, has seen him secure a nomination for the coveted award.
Thirty years ago, the family developed a whole farm plan and mission statement for YYGW Farm to address environmental issues such as gully erosion, salinity, waterlogging, ecological decline and livestock and pasture exposure.
The property has been fenced to land classes and trees and shrubs have been planted along land class boundaries. Other areas fenced and revegetated with multi-purpose plantations include, creeks, drainage lines, remnant vegetation, salt affected areas and waterlogged sites.
These plantings have been connected to form a web of trees meandering across the farming landscape providing, soil, pasture and livestock protection, nutrient cycling, waterway protection, wild life corridors, improved aesthetics and wellbeing for people who live, work and visit the farm. There is now a 23km interface of trees and shrubs to pasture and 113 bird species recorded.
Modelling suggests carbon neutrality will be achieved when revegetation increases from the current 18 per cent to 20 per cent of the property. While multi-purpose trees and shrubs have formed a robust biological infrastructure, which underpins the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the farm
Andrew and his family have been key drivers of the Yan Yan Gurt Creek Catchment community revegetation program with 98 per cent of the 18km creek completed and forming a wildlife corridor connecting many farms.
Announced at the upcoming National Landcare Awards, the Bob Hawke Landcare Award publicly recognises an individual involved in championing Landcare and inspiring others to take action on their own property or through a Landcare group. It also acknowledges a person’s leadership and commitment to Landcare, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture.
Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish says an overwhelming number of people were nominated for the award.
Dr Norrish said: “We received very strong nominations from across the country demonstrating there is a strong interest to be recognised for this distinguished national accolade. The award will be presented to an individual who actively pursues, introduces and shapes innovative farming systems to improve productivity, profitability, sustainability, and the quality of our natural resources.”
The winner of the Bob Hawke Landcare Award will be announced at the virtual 2021 National Landcare Awards gala dinner on Thursday 5 August, 2021.
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award recipient will be awarded a prize package of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management to enable an even stronger contribution to Landcare.
For more information about the Bob Hawke Landcare Award please visit: https://bobhawkelandcareaward.com.au/
**To register for free as an online delegate at the National Landcare Conference and National Landcare Awards, visit https://nationallandcareconference.org.au/
