Overview of proposed Kachana Research Programme.

The following is an overview on the research programme developed by Kimberley Specialists in conjunction with Kachana Pastoral Company. This proposal was initiated and written up by Dr Stacey Porter, Kimberley Specialists scientific research co-ordinator, with input from Danny Waser and Lee Scott-Virtue. This proposal was used as a basis for a Kimberley Sustainable Regions Project funding application.

Project Description

The main focus of the project is to conduct research into the outcomes of the application of animals in land-care (including waterways), cultural and natural resource management and rangeland development.

Project Aim

To optimise environmental, social and economic returns for landowners and the tourism industry by improving land-care and management practices in the Kimberley and creating Indigenous based business opportunities.

Background and Existing Projects

Land care and resource management have been in place on Kachana since 1992 to rebuild the foundations for sustainable land use. In conjunction with Kimberley Specialists, facilities and qualified people are in place to cater for research and practical projects which have already attracted national and international researchers.

Results to date on the application of animals as a land-care management tool in the controlled area include:

1. A change in climatic conditions in the controlled area
2. The transformation of an annual water flow into a perennial flow.
3. The existence of clear run-off from what has been traditionally brown sludge
4. Increased ground cover and biomass
5. Reduced soil exposure and degraded areas
6. Increased water reliability
7. Reduced silt loads during flooding
8. The restoration of degraded areas into pockets of open woodland, forest and productive grassland
9. Greater resistance and resilience to fire of undergrowth.
10. The creation of more sustainable habitat systems for flora and fauna and micro-organisms
11. The creation of 'refugia' of various species of flora
12. The creation of protective zones around cultural heritage sites

1. Compare 5 types of land management practices in a controlled trial
2. Preparation of an area for the cultivation of bush food and medicinal plants (this is to work in with the Plants for People project run by Professor L Evans from Curtain University 'Maximising Returns from small land-holders through Indigenous Plant Cultivation).

1. Provision of four (4) areas for treatment and comparative research
   
   

1. Create refugia of remaining threatened cultural assets

1. Create refugia of remaining threatened flora and micro-organisms both in numbers and genetic diversity

1. Verification of the results to date (as identified above in existing projects) and on-going comparison with results to date
   
   
2. Base-line data on new control areas and the creation of relevant databases in specific research interests (the following are examples only and is only limited by the availability of researchers)
   
   
   1. Biomass analysis including soil quality and web foods, soil nutrient analysis, seed banks and other relevant data
      
   2. Invertebrae (species, numbers,)
      
   3. Micro-organisms (species, numbers,)
      
   4. Flora and fauna (species, numbers,)
      
   5. Water quality (ground and stream water analysis)
      
   6. Fish and other aquatic stocks (species, numbers)
      
   7. Introduced plant species analysis.
      
   8. Fire regime assessment and results analysis.
      
   9. Animal management techniques (different grazing intensities, replication analysis and assessment.
      
   10. Archaeological, anthropological, oral traditions and other 'input' research data.
       
   
   
   
3. Establish a database of land care and range-land practices for application in other pastoral stations (Indigenous and non-indigenous)
   
   
4. Creation of fire-breaks (using animals) around threatened cultural and heritage sites
   
   
5. Identification of threatened species (flora, fauna, invertebrate and micro-organisms)
   
   
6. Value 'Islands of Biodiversity', 'Cultural Diversity', water catchments and rangelands
   
   
7. Establish a data-base of bush food plants and medicinal plants and propagate plants (Plants for People project)
   
   
8. Indigenous participants to acquire ambassadorial and educational skills through the establishment of horticultural farms (Plants for People project)
   

1. Use of Animals
   1. Demonstrate that the application of animals:
      1. Is critical for upper catchment well being
      2. Can be used in the restoration of degraded pastoral country and transferable to other degraded areas such as mining
      3. Can produce sustainable and viable pasture on a scale neutral reproducible basis
      4. Achieves resistance and resilience to fire
      5. Produces open woodland
      6. Increases biodiversity
      7. Increases effectiveness of rain
      8. Increases water reliability
      9. Produces more sustainable water systems and aquaculture
      10. Reduces silt loads into water systems
      11. Protects cultural assets from fire and flooding through the creation of firebreaks
      12. Application of sustainable rangeland is transferable to other indigenous and non indigenous land owners and land care managers
2. Other Outcomes
   1. Demonstrate:
      1. Threatened flora and micro-organisms have increased in both numbers and genetic diversity
      2. Safe habitats have been created for threatened fauna
      3. Quantify value for 'Islands of Biodiversity', 'Cultural Diversity', water catchments and rangelands
      4. The existence of a database of bush food plants and medicinal plants and propagation of plants has been achieved
      5. Horticultural skills have been demonstrated (indigenous and/or non indigenous people)
      6. Acquisition of Ambassadorial and educational skills have been acquired and passed on to local indigenous communities
      7. *Production of bush-foods for restaurant retail
      8. *Production of medicinal plants for pharmaceutical use and sale
      9. Horticultural farms have become educational and tourist attractions
      10. Increased sustainable food production promotes the concept of 'living off the land' (specifically for indigenous communities but generally applicable)
3. In General
   1. Provide;
      1. Future industry opportunities in areas of Recreation and Tourism.
      2. Research and Education opportunities.