Mallee scrub property management

The benefits of remnant vegetation

Many farmers blend primary production with conservation, they use the land within its varied capabilities and capacity.

Remnant vegetation is all that is left of the original ecosystems prior to settlement, land clearing, farming and all other land uses.

This special type of system is balanced to look after itself as well as farmland through:

Healthy mallee scrub is a diverse ecosystem. It can be maintained or improved by following some practical guidelines:

Develop a whole-farm plan, making sure to identify and prioritise the natural assets. If your remnants are isolated, consider linking them with vegetation corridors for wildlife movement and greater viability.
Revegetate rocky outcrops and sand hills that may have limited agricultural capability and productivity.
Avoid fertilising, fire, cultivation and herbicides too close to mallee remnant vegetation.
When planting revegetation, consider having a range of grasses, shrubs and groundcovers beneath the taller trees to maximise habitat value and reduce erosion.
Plant native grasses to control erosion rather than introduced plants.
Fence off remnant vegetation and control weeds and pest animals.
Where practical, leave dead trees, fallen timber and hollow logs for habitat.
Plant woodlots to reduce the impact of firewood collection on wildlife.
Maintain areas of native grass, even along the edges of cropping paddocks, to maximise water use, use as pasture, and to provide food and native habitat.
Keep pets in at night to avoid predation on native animals.
Close unused water points that provide for foxes, cats, goats and kangaroos.
Optimise natural pest control by including wattles, tea-trees and other recognised host plants into your revegetation to attract wasps and other beneficial insects.
Wildlife poachers are worse than most other pest species! Help protect wildlife such as the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo by joining a neighbourhood watch rural program.

Where practical, leave dead trees, fallen timber and hollow logs for habitat.
Plant woodlots to reduce the impact of firewood collection on wildlife.
Maintain areas of native grass, even along the edges of cropping paddocks, to maximise water use, use as pasture, and to provide food and native habitat.

Keep pets in at night to avoid predation on native animals.
Close unused water points that provide for foxes, cats, goats and kangaroos.
Optimise natural pest control by including wattles, tea-trees and other recognised host plants into your revegetation to attract wasps and other beneficial insects.
Wildlife poachers are worse than most other pest species! Help protect wildlife such as the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo by joining a neighbourhood watch rural program.

We have developed a range of factsheets about mallee scrub conservation to assist you with good land management. See the related links below.