LANDCLEARING is a way producers increase productivity, but loss of habitat threatens the survival of native animal species.
University of Queensland researchers explored the benefits of regrowth for 30 threatened animal species in Queensland to access the resilience of native trees.
They found native vegetation regrowth was imperative to native animal survival and that there were ways to reward producers taking part in regenerative programs.
PhD candidate Hannah Thomas and Professor of Environmental Management Martine Maron found regrown forests and woodlands provided valuable habitat and food for species after an average of 15 years.
“This presents an opportunity for governments to support landowners and encourage them to retain more regrowing forest and woodland,” Ms Thomas said.
“But it’s a challenge because there is strong pressure to clear regrowth, largely to maintain pasture.
“We focused on threatened animal species that depend on forests and woodlands and occur in regions with substantial regrowth.
“There’s not much survey data available on threatened species living in naturally regenerated forest and woodlands.”
They looked at agriculture and how producers manage the land they own.
“The fact that habitat can regrow naturally in parts of Queensland is a huge bonus,” she said.
“However, farmers need to maintain productivity, which can decrease if there’s too much regrowth.”
One way to retain regrowth without losing productivity is through incentives.
“As an example, government-funded biodiversity stewardship schemes provide payments to cover the costs of managing the vegetation such as fencing off habitat and managing weeds,” she said.
“And there’s compensation for loss of agricultural production.
“Targeting areas of regrowth with high habitat values could be a way for such schemes to benefit wildlife.”
Another way to encourage regrowth is through a scheme where landowners generate biodiversity or carbon credits by keeping more trees on their property.
