This hand book has been produced from the results of wetland research projects funded by the Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation (LWRRDC) and Environment Australia, in association with the New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) and Botany, University of New England (UNE). The information contained in this publication has been published by LWRRDC to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the sustainable management of land, water and vegetation. Where technical information has been prepared or contributed by authors external to the Corporation, readers should contact the authors, and conduct their own enquiries before making use of that information.

There has never been greater public investment in natural resource management (NRM) in Australia, or in research that provides the information and knowledge to improve it. A challenge exists to ensure that this ever increasing knowledge base is used to make on-ground decisions.

Background, Key findings of Research project number SYN1 of the Social and Institutional Research Program of Land & Water Australia.

The biodiversity research in Grain & Graze focuses on the relationships between biodiversity (plants, animals, insects and microorganisms) and on-farm production. Over many years, monitoring four paddocks with different land uses on 47 mixed farms, the project will contribute to answering the following questions: * Does enterprise diversity on-farm lead to increased biodiversityΓ * Is there a relationship between site conditions, land use, landscape, terrain and biodiversityΓ Results of the long term research should inform farmers about what can be done to maintain and enhance

Watershed Torbay was established in 2001 as a national demonstration project to undertake whole of catchment waterways restoration. Funded by Land & Water Australia through the former National Rivers Consortium, the aim was to further develop and test approaches to waterways management at a whole catchment, rather than river reach scale, and to share the learnings and successes throughout Australia.

Brochure on the use of a salinity unit converter disk for vegetables

The following is a synthesis of insights attained through Grain & Graze research investments. In most cases the insights arise from analyses across several projects. These specific insights are discussed in detail in this report.

The project will establish saltbush and clover on saltland. Investigate potential for producing barley between saltbush alleys to feed with saltbush when grazed in autumn.

Establishment of a mix of perennial grasses, annual legumes and shrubs to lift productivity from 1 to 7DSE. From 2007 will investigate best grazing management strategies to maximise ongoing productivity.

After major rains and flooding in 1999 left some of their best-producing paddocks susceptible to dryland salinity, Bonnie Rock farmers Phil and Caroline Smith began thinking about how to get the affected land back to production.