Best Management Practices

 In the Namoi Catchment, land management is the key to improving salinity and water quality. BMP covers all aspects of natural resource management – not just the land surface, soils and production based landuse. It includes nutrient and energy cycling, geology and minerals, soil biota, ecology, biodiversity, land based native plants and animals, habitat, water balance and cycling, surface and ground water, riverine ecosystems and associated plants and animals, floodplain management and replenishment. The adoption of BMP addresses the impacts from environmentally unsustainable landuse.

BMP needs to be customised for different enterprise mixes, landscapes and soil types, climates etc. It should be flexible and constantly reviewed to allow for changes in technology and other aspects of the operating environment. Climate change is an

overarching issue that needs to be addressed in all aspects of BMP – crop production, livestock selection as well as environmental aspects.

Our Aims and Objectives

It is the intent of the Namoi CMA to promote and facilitate the adoption of best management practices (BMPs) for all industries and landuses, so as to achieve improved landscape health. The focus is on rural land managers and non-rural industries alike. The term “BMP” includes industry guidelines, Environmental Management Systems and other quality assurance programs.

From 2006, the aim is to increase the area of land managed according to Best Management Practice.

This will be achieved by the following management actions:

• developing and / or extending BMP in partnership with industry; and
• assisting the adoption of industry based BMPs through technical support and incentives.

Science and Knowledge

In partnership with industry, develop BMPs manuals or industry guidelines for industries not already operating under BMP (eg cropping and livestock). Support creative and innovative research opportunities and new technologies relevant to the Namoi to acquire information to enable continual improvement to BMP. Utilise the best available science and information, including local knowledge and innovation, to ensure that BMP manuals and guidelines are up to date and consistent with current best practice.

Planning

Use the Land Management Unit framework for the catchment as a means of defining BMPs spatially. Identify hotspots and target hotspots and specific industries, to increase awareness and uptake.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation will be based on changes in management practices across the whole catchment as determined by survey, with supporting output information from the Namoi CMA contract database, which will provide the area changed using investment funds.