Forum for Aboriginal land managers

Posted 08 July 2021.

A Managing Pastoral Country Forum in Coober Pedy brought together Aboriginal land managers from around the region.

The SAAL Board partnered with The Indigenous Land and Sea Council and RCS to provide an opportunity for networking for Aboriginal owned and managed pastoral enterprises across the Marla-See

During the 3-day forum Professor Roger Stone gave a thought-provoking presentation on preparing and interpreting conditions for a changing climate. Understanding the requirements and opportunities of carbon through Human Induced Regeneration by Casey Harris and Michael Eyres lead to discussions around the positives of increasing carbon in the rangeland environment, as well as being able to provide knowledge on carbon project viability in the pastoral area.

Land managers James Kerr and Natalie Sommerville shared personal stories and strategies of how they had overcome the challenges of production in the sometimes adverse SA conditions.

During a social evening Aquaterrex CEO Daryl Bothe explained how the company’s water-finding methods where resulting in highly accurate sourcing of reliable high quality water at predictable depths.

Participants also visited Mabel Creek and Mt Willoughby, providing an opportunity to look at station operations. RCS trainer Nick Kentish explained grazing management techniques and opened discussions on opportunities for diversifying pastoral businesses.

With more than 70 years of combined pastoral vegetation knowledge Merri Tothill and Brendon Ley gave an insight into the state of vegetation across the varying landscapes and the nutritional and ecological value of native vegetation management.

This event was supported by the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and Indigenous Land and Sea Incorporation.