Clearing Trees
1 | Clearing Trees 2 |
PLEASE ALLOW me some space in your magazine to reply to the
concerns that have been raised by Fiona Fraser, regarding the
article about part of our family's enterprise.
First of all, the title in Savanna Links, Issue 9,
article was not correct ( How one producer broke the bush cycle
of debt ). Our business is not free of debt, but the rest of
the article is accurate. As a businessman my main interests, other
than sharing the management of the family cattle station, is
developing a new organic beef export market. As chemicals and
supplementary feeding play no part in the production steps of this
product, the only way it can be produced is by sustainable
management practices. In business, unless we carefully nurture our
resources, our future will be bleak. Unfortunately, cattle eat few
of our native trees, so to provide pastures, the trees must be
removed. In this environment, with tree basal densities of 7 to 12
square metres per hectare and tree canopy areas of in excess of 75
per cent, grass growth is suppressed to 100 to 250 kilograms of
grass per hectare.
Land clearing is producing 4200 kilograms per hectare. These new
grasslands are returning our lands back to the state they appeared
in when white settlement selected this country in the 1860s. Proof
of this is found in early Land Department survey records, as well
as recent soil analysing work (delta 13 carbon measuring) by Dr
Bill Burrows.
In all forms of enterprise, some items or resources must be
sacrificed for others to prosper. Clearing trees for cattle is no
different from clearing trees to build universities, houses, roads,
etc.
Our enterprise is presently undertaking a feasibility study to
see if a further 8000 hectares of tree clearing will be of benefit.
In view of your concerns Fiona, we are willing to offer a joint
venture project to investors to purchase shares in the remaining
forest country on the station. The reality of this project would be
a privately owned National Park. In exchange for the proposed
development, destocking, the removal of all man-made waters and
fences and providing open access to shareholders/investors at all
times, our business would require an annual reimbursement of our
lost income from this area of land.
In a developed state, that would include tree clearing and
improved pasture seeding with introduced species like buffel grass
and verano stylo, this area would support 1800 breeders. They will
annually produce $460,000 worth of yearling Wagyu feeder cattle. If
the numbers of concerned citizens are an indication of the likely
shareholders, investors wishing to purchase a portion of the unique
environment portfolio would be advised to contact Keen-Gea
immediately.
Dennis Fahey, Keen-Gea Station, Torrens Creek
SL: We do apologise for the inaccurate title.
I WISH to reply to the letter from the PhD student, Fiona
Fraser, who wrote to your last issue concerning the clearing of
native vegetation ( Savanna Links Issue 9, March-April,
Letter
to the Editor ).
I wish to tell you the stories of two of our close neighbours.
One cleared and introduced buffel grass to approx. 1200 ha of
Gidyea country, less than 10 per cent of their holding. They are
now able to run their entire cattle herd on this area from
December, or soon after the first rains, for approximately six
months.
Sometimes, in a good La Nina year, for the whole year. This
means they rest their remaining country, which is all native
vegetation, for at least six months every year, and especially
during the valuable wet period from December to March. As a result
their native vegetation is in an extremely healthy state. There is
so much growth they are able to carry out a regular burning regime
which further enhances the health of native trees and grasses. Our
second neighbour has done things a little differently. They have
very little Gidyea country, mostly Iron Bark and Box country. They
chose to clear or partially clear and sow buffel and Stylos to a
portion of each paddock. As a result the cattle concentrate almost
entirely and almost all of the time in the "developed" areas, only
moving to the timbered native areas when it is raining, or during
periods of severe drought when the introduced species are eaten
out. Again, their native vegetation, and in particular the native
grasses, which are still in a majority even in the "cleared" areas,
are in a wonderfully healthy and sustainable state. You can observe
where the buffel grasses are definitely grazed while the native
species which intermingle with the clumps of buffel are untouched,
tall and lush.
These neighbours, too, have had a yearly burning regime.
In our own case, however, we have cleared less than 2 per cent
of our property, and have very few introduced grasses. As a result
our cattle graze the native grasses and edible native shrubs and
trees most of the time. We rest one paddock each year, which means
each paddock , and its native vegetation, is spelled approx. once
every 10 to 12 years. Unfortunately not nearly enough. Prior to
last year we experienced, like our neighbours, seven years of
drought. Unlike them we didn't have enough fuel to burn, as our
native pastures, although not "flogged", didn't provide enough fuel
until last year for burning. We have Grass
Check sites and photo sites which we regularly monitor. We run
less stock than our objectively estimated "carrying capacity". Yet,
overall, our native vegetation isn't nearly as robust, plentiful
and healthy as that of our neighbours' . . . except in those two
paddocks in which we have done some clearing, and introduced buffel
grass and Stylos in recent years.
Perhaps, by clearing sensibly, we can enhance sustainability,
especially on smaller and less viable properties by improving the
viability of the landholders, and the condition of the native
vegetation. It is important we all keep very open minds on the
subject; take a holistic view; and take a look at as many
"on-ground" results as possible. Please, Fiona, come and see for
yourself!
Margaret House, "Fortuna", Aramac, Queensland
For original article and letters see web links
below.
