TRENDS IN ON FARM BIODIVERSITY
MANAGEMENT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES
Introduction
Agricultural industries make an important contribution to Western Australia's economic
prosperity. In 2009-10 the gross value of agricultural production was $4.6 billion for the
state (ABS 2011). Agriculture occupies 43 per cent of Western Australia's 2.5 million
square kilometre landmass (Figure 1). Land managed for agriculture includes assets
important for biodiversity conservation. These include remnant native vegetation (such
as patches of forest, woodlands, shrublands and grasslands), native vegetation along
rivers and creeks, wetlands and rocky outcrops. Preliminary estimates suggest that
around three-quarters of Western Australia's native vegetation may be on land mapped
as used for agriculture (Figure 2). Much of this land is native pasture.
Caring for our Country—the Australian Government's $2 billion farm flagship natural
resource management initiative-is funding projects in the sustainable practices national
priority area under the improving management practices and landscape scale
conservation targets.
These projects provide information to farmers in the broadacre cropping, dairy,
horticulture and beef cattle/ sheep industries about land management practices that will
help improve soil condition and contribute to maintaining a healthy environment.
By 30 May 2012, $448 million had been approved for projects to improve soil and
biodiversity management practices on farm. On farm practice change is being monitored
using the biennial Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Agricultural Resource
Management Survey (ARMS), which surveys 33 000 of Australia's 135 000 agricultural
businesses (farmers). Results are reported at the national, state and natural resource
management region levels (ABS 2009). The numbers reported are estimated from a
sample of about one-quarter of all agricultural businesses, so the results are subject to
sampling error. This is most pronounced for questions with lower response rates. Data
were not publishable for some practices in some regions.
Agricultural industry profile
According to ABS estimates, in 2009-10 there were 12 465 agricultural businesses in
Western Australia, a decrease of 5 per cent since 2007-08. During this time the
estimated area managed for agriculture increased by about 1.5 per cent. In 2009-10 the
average age of farmers in Western Australia was 53 years; on average they had
Trends in on farm biodiversity management in Western Australia's agricultural industries
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managed their holdings for 22 years and farmed in their local region for 28 years. An
estimated 20 per cent of agricultural businesses (2474) had a Landcare group member.
Figure 1. Major agricultural land uses in Western Australia, 2005-06.
Source: ABARE-BRS 2010a, ABARES-BRS 2010b (horticulture), ABS 200506 Agricultural census (mesh blocks
containing dairy farms). Note that the areas of dairying and horticulture have been exaggerated for display.
Trends in on farm biodiversity management in Western Australia's agricultural industries
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Figure 2. Native vegetation extent for Western Australia and estimated
proportion mapped as being under agricultural land use.
Sources: BRS 2010, ABARE-BRS 2010b.
On farm biodiversity management practices
Caring for our Country has provided funding to encourage farmers to improve the
protection and management of on farm native vegetation, including wetlands and
vegetation along streams and rivers. This funding complemented the activities of state
agencies, industry and community groups. Data from the ABS 2007-08 and 2009-10
ARMS help track trends in adoption of biodiversity management practices.
The area of native vegetation on farms
In 2009-10 around 75 per cent of agricultural businesses in Western Australia were
estimated to have native vegetation on their holdings (Figure 3). About 80 per cent of
businesses with native vegetation provided an estimate of its area, which was calculated
as about 67 million hectares. The estimated number of agricultural businesses with
native vegetation, the percentage providing estimates of the area of native vegetation,
and the estimated total area of native vegetation on farms were all higher in 2007-08
than in 2009-10.
The actual area of native vegetation on Western Australian farms is larger than ABS data
suggest; around one-fifth of businesses reporting native vegetation did not provide an
area estimate. Additionally, smaller rural properties (with an annual estimated value of
operation of less than $5000) are not surveyed by the ABS. The ABS estimates were
compared with the area of native vegetation shown in the native vegetation extent 2004
dataset (BRS 2010) constrained to agricultural areas using catchment scale land use data
(ABARE-BRS 2010b). In Western Australia the ARMS estimate of the area of native
vegetation on holdings accounted for about 38 per cent of this area (Figure 4).
Trends in on farm biodiversity management in Western Australia's agricultural industries
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Figure 3. Estimated percentages of agricultural businesses with native
vegetation on holdings in Western Australia, 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Figure 4. Area of native vegetation estimated on agricultural holdings in
Western Australia by the 2007-08 ARMS compared with the native vegetation
extent (2004) dataset (agricultural areas only).
Only 80 per cent of businesses with native vegetation provided an area estimate; native vegetation on smaller
holdings not surveyed by ABS could not be excluded from this analysis. The area of land mapped as
conservation/protected areas (including Indigenous and minimal use classes), is shown for comparative
purposes.
Trends in on farm biodiversity management in Western Australia's agricultural industries
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Table 1. Area of native vegetation protected by Western Australian agricultural
businesses for conservation purposes, 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Region
Area (ha) - 2007-08
Area (ha) - 2009-10
8 754 150
7 189 779
Avon
244 676
252 638
Northern agricultural
214 248
155 337
Rangelands
7 905 372
6 445 614
South coast
232 695
195 429
South west
103 101
106 068
54 057
34 693
Western Australia
Swan
Protection of native vegetation on farms
Of the 75 per cent of agricultural businesses estimated in 2009-10 to have native
vegetation on their holdings, 67 per cent protected an estimated 7.2 million hectares of
native vegetation for conservation purposes (Figure 5 and Table 1). Between 2007-08
and 2009-10 there was a 1 per cent increase in the number of agricultural businesses
protecting native vegetation for conservation purposes (Figure 5); the area estimated as
protected decreased by over 1.6 million hectares. The only increases were reported for
the Avon and South West regions (Table 1).
Figure 5. Estimated percentages of Western Australian agricultural businesses
protecting native vegetation for conservation purposes, 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Trends in on farm biodiversity management in Western Australia's agricultural industries
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Figure 6. Methods used for protecting native vegetation for conservation
purposes by agricultural businesses across Western Australia, 2007-08 and
2009-10.
Methods for protecting native vegetation on farm
About 72 per cent of the 6250 agricultural businesses protecting native vegetation for
conservation in 2009-10 were estimated to totally exclude livestock (from about 2.1
million hectares), about 39 per cent retained existing native vegetation (2.8 million
hectares), about 16 per cent managed weeds (373 000 hectares) and 28 per cent were
estimated to have controlled livestock access (236 000 hectares). A further 20 per cent
managed pest animals (2.4 million hectares). About 12 per cent were estimated to have
planted or seeded native vegetation (on about 25 000 hectares; Figure 6). The 2009-10
estimates were lower than those for all methods in 2007-08 except total livestock
exclusion which increased from 70 per cent in 2007-08 (Figure 6).
In 2009-10 about 13 per cent (1178) of all Western Australian agricultural businesses
with native vegetation on their holdings were estimated as having conservation
agreements (an agreement between a land owner and an organisation such as an
Australian Government or state agency to help the landowner protect vegetation) in
place, about the same number as in 2007-08 (Figure 7). About 91 per cent of these
provided an estimate of the area (about 140 000 hectares) under conservation
agreements on their holdings, a decrease of more than 200 000 hectares since 2007-08
(Figure 8). It was estimated that for 2009-10, of the businesses holding conservation
agreements, 36 per cent were held in perpetuity (Figure 7). It is likely that a number of
smaller rural properties not surveyed by the ABS also had conservation agreements.
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Figure 7. Estimated percentages of Western Australian agricultural businesses
with conservation agreements for protecting native vegetation and for those
held in perpetuity, 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Figure 8. Estimated areas of conservation agreements held by Western
Australian agricultural businesses for protecting native vegetation, 2007-08 and
2009-10.
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Figure 9. Estimated percentages of Western Australian agricultural businesses
with wetlands on holdings, 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Protection of wetlands
In 2009-10 about 20 per cent of Western Australia's agricultural businesses were
estimated as having wetlands on their holdings, a small increase in the estimates
reported for 2007-08 (Figure 9). Of the 20 per cent reporting wetlands, 60 per cent
protected their wetlands for conservation purposes, an increase from 56 per cent in
2007-08 (Figure 10).
In 2009-10 an estimated 36 per cent of agricultural businesses protecting wetlands on
holdings retained existing native vegetation (about 118 000 hectares) and 30 per cent
controlled livestock access (33 000 hectares). An estimated 12 per cent of agricultural
Trends in on farm biodiversity management in Western Australia's agricultural industries
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businesses managed weeds (area not publishable) in wetlands, 63 per cent excluded
livestock (about 89 000 hectares), 16 per cent managed pests and/ or feral animals
(about 120 000 hectares), 9 per cent maintained water in wetlands (about 18 000
hectares), and about 7 per cent planted or seeded native vegetation (about 3500
hectares). Figure 11 shows that these estimated percentages were lower than those for
2007-08 across all methods. The numbers of businesses using these methods (except for
total livestock exclusion) also decreased over the period 2007-08 to 2009-10.
Figure 10. Estimated percentages of Western Australian agricultural businesses
protecting wetlands on holdings for conservation purposes, 2007-08 and 200910.
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Figure 11. Methods used for protecting wetlands for conservation purposes
across Western Australia, 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Shows methods used as a percentage of the estimated number of agricultural businesses protecting wetlands.
Data were not publishable for the numbers of businesses: controlling livestock access in the Rangelands and
the Northern Agricultural region in 2009-10; planting or seeding native vegetation in the Northern Agricultural
(2007-08), Rangelands (2007-08 and 2009-10) and Swan (2009-10) regions; managing weeds in the Northern
Agricultural (2009-10), Rangelands (2007-08 and 2009-10) and Swan (2007-08) regions; and maintaining
water in wetlands in the Avon (2007-08), Northern Agricultural (2009-10) and Rangelands (2007-08 and 200910) regions.
Protection of vegetation along rivers and creeks
In 2009–10, 53 per cent of agricultural businesses in Western Australia were estimated
as having rivers or creeks on their holdings (Figure 12). Of this 53 per cent, 59 per cent
were protecting creek or riverbank areas (Figure 13). This is an estimated increase from
54 per cent in 2007–08 in agricultural businesses protecting creek or riverbank areas
(Figure 13).
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Figure 12. Estimated percentages of Western Australian agricultural businesses
with rivers and creeks on holdings, 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Figure 13. Estimated percentages of Western Australian agricultural businesses
protecting rivers and creeks on holdings for conservation purposes, 2007-08
and 2009-10.
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Methods for protecting vegetation along rivers and
creeks
In 2009-10 an estimated 24 per cent of the agricultural businesses protecting creek and
riverbank areas on their holdings undertook weed management (about 1000 hectares),
39 per cent retained existing native vegetation (about 35 000 hectares), 35 per cent
controlled livestock access (about 49 000 hectares), 59 per cent excluded livestock (to
about 7000 hectares) and an estimated 19 per cent managed pests and/or feral animals
(about 32 000 hectares). An estimated 16 per cent planted or seeded native vegetation
(about 500 hectares). Figure 14 shows that these estimated percentages were lower than
those for 2007-08 across all methods.
Figure 14. Methods used for protecting river or creek banks for conservation
purposes on holdings across Western Australia, 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Shows methods used as a percentage of agricultural businesses that report protecting river and creek banks.
Data were not publishable for the number of businesses planting or seeding native vegetation in the
Rangelands and Swan regions.
Conclusions
Land managed for agriculture includes a significant component of Western Australia's
biodiversity assets. Estimates from the ABS ARMS data indicate that more than twothirds of the agricultural businesses reporting native vegetation, and almost two-thirds
reporting wetlands or rivers and creeks on farm were protecting these resources for
conservation purposes. Over the period 2007-08 to 2009-10, the estimated percentage
of businesses protecting native vegetation, wetlands and rivers and creeks increased.
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While the estimated number of conservation agreements in place remained relatively
static, the area estimated as covered by these agreements declined.
These increases were not always reflected in increased percentages of businesses
reporting methods used for protection. The 2009-10 ARMS asked respondents to
nominate the hectares of native vegetation, wetlands, rivers and creeks protected
through excluding or controlling livestock access, managing weeds or pests, retaining
existing vegetation or planting/seeding new native vegetation. The difficulties associated
with providing area estimates for these activities may have reduced the number of
responses to the questions.
References
ABARE-BRS 2010a, Land use of Australia 2005-06, version 4, Australian Bureau of
Agricultural Resource and Economics-Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra.
ABARE-BRS 2010b, Catchment scale land use mapping for Australia: update March 2010
dataset, Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource and Economics-Bureau of Rural
Sciences, Canberra.
http://adl.brs.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pa_luausr9abll07611a00.xml
ABS 2011, Value of agricultural commodities produced 2009-10, Australian Bureau of
Statistics, Canberra.
ABS 2009, Land management and farming in Australia, 2007-08, cat. no. 4627.0,
available at
abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/C3FC0BDD85E571DBCA2578B5
0011D983?opendocument.
BRS 2010, Native vegetation extent 2004 dataset, Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra,
available at adl.brs.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pa_vast_g9abll0032008_11a.xml.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2013
This document is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/) licence. Unless otherwise stated, all
images in the publication are copyrighted by their original owners. Thanks to Jodie
Mewett and Justyna Paplinska, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
and Sciences, for data analysis. This publication (and any material sourced from it)
should be attributed as Barson, M 2013, Trends in on farm biodiversity management in
Western Australia's agricultural industries, Caring for our Country Sustainable Practices
fact sheet 35, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra.
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