Between 2004 and 2005, the Land, Water & Wool Northern Tablelands Project (NSW) collected paddock, production and financial information from 21 Monitor farms. The farms varied in grazing management, input levels, target markets and family goals. Results indicate that a range of mechanisms are in place to enhance biodiversity, and that woolgrowers can demonstrate exciting examples of environmentally friendly management that improve the bottom line.

Combating salinity on prime farmland remains a challenge for producers across WA but it becomes increasingly difficult when salt is a soil surface issue rather than a rising watertable event. That was the situation facing Prospect Pastoral Co principals Ian and Di Haggerty before they got involved with the Sustainable Grazing on Saline Lands program (SGSL).

George and nephew Dean Hull have been dealing with salinity since George first witnessed parts of the farm being affected by salt and waterlogging after buying the property in 1959. It is one of these areas on the farm which is now the subject of a Sustainable Grazing on Saline Lands (SGSL) trial to compare the effects of different surface drainage techniques, the results from which can vary considerably.

Land, Water & Wool is the wool industry's largest-ever collaborative research investment in sustaining the natural resource base and aims to overcome the major challenges of access to information about sustainable wool production that is relevant, practical and in a familiar language. The Land, Water & Wool Project Guide offers a detailed overview of the Land, Water & Wool research portfolio. It is divided into eight sections, representing the seven sub programs with an additional section at the end devoted to 'Further Information'. The Guide also contains a helpful 'road-map' and colour coded sections to help readers quickly find their area of interest.

In this issue . . . . Theme: Inland rivers and riparian zones: Management of our inland rivers - a matter of choice: ARIDFLO - Environmental flow requirements for Australian arid zone rivers: Third Australian Stream Management Conference: Understanding large floodplain ecosystems

The Land, Water & Wool Northern Tablelands Project (NSW) aims to raise awareness of the importance and value of biodiversity to the wool industry, demonstrate the many ways in which biodiversity drives profitable production on New England wool properties, and show how wool properties can protect valuable biodiversity. To do this, a wide range of southern New England wool properties have been profiled as Case Studies and Testimonials.

Looking over the neighbour's fence was the inspiration for Jeff and Marilyn Tink to tackle emerging creek line salinity that was threatening to extend into their cropping country. On their neighbour's property healthy trees flourished in the flat creek area further downstream, while a similar area on their own property showed bare salt scalds and dying trees.

Mr Stone is the host farmer for the Hommarjelly Creek Catchment Group and has seen his unproductive saline land become a food basket for his sheep over the past two years. Trial aim: Compare the effects of liming on saltland pastures.

This project aimed to assess the ecological value of scattered paddock trees at a landscape scale, using two approaches. This first was to undertake an intensive mapping program for two study areas in South Australia, equating to an area of 378,000 hectares, and the second to undertake a field study to assess how birds use paddock trees at various levels of tree cover.