Associate Professor Paul Rymer from Western's Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) has secured more than $5.9 million through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's Future Drought Fund for the project Seeding diverse native ground cover on farms for drought and climate resilience.
The project, which will build capacity to restore regional landscapes with drought resilient native ground cover, is funded through the Future Drought Fund Resilient Landscapes Program and supported by a 16-strong team comprising academic, government and community partners.
Across NSW land-use change and degradation of open grassy woodlands is leading to ecosystem collapse and drought vulnerability in regional communities. To combat this, the research team will create resources to deliver diverse, climate-ready seed for revegetation; drought-tolerant ground cover; nature positive biodiversity and soil carbon enhancement; and landscape connections that support ecological, social and cultural values.
"Grassy woodlands across NSW are at a tipping point," said Associate Professor Paul Rymer, lead investigator. "With this funding, we can restore these critical ecosystems and equip farming communities with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in a changing climate."
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Ian Anderson congratulated the multi-disciplinary team from Western's Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment and Centre for Western Sydney – including Professors Sally Power, Uffe Nielsen, and Neil Perry, and Dr Eleonora Egidi.
"This funding success speaks to Western's commitment to transformative research – research that starts with our communities and generates real outcomes," said Professor Anderson.
"Paul and his team are the reason Western is a world leader in sustainable development."
The research project will be supported by investigators from institutions across NSW, including Charles Sturt University; University of New England; the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; NSW Local Land Services; several Landcare and First Nations organisations; and regional farmers.
The Future Drought Fund Resilient Landscapes Program funds projects that focus on achieving and measuring transformational change and impact at landscape scale, identifying tipping points or thresholds, and demonstrating practices, technologies or approaches that improve management of natural capital and enable farmers to be prepared for, and have the capacity and diversity of options to respond to, drought.
