FortesCue

The Fortescue River Catchment has been identified as a priority natural asset in the Pilbara. It is an iconic river and has significant cultural, historical, economic and environmental values. It faces threats to these values related to erosion and riparian degradation caused by unmanaged grazing, invasive species, fire, eutrophication and dewatering from mining operations

Pastoral lease tenure covers a significant proportion of the catchment, thus pastoral property managers are well positioned to influence the catchment’s condition. The Ecologically Sustainable Rangeland Management (ESRM) program was established to work with landholders in environmental evaluation and planning for properties.

The ESRM in the Fortescue project is required to:

• Facilitate effective stakeholder planning and management of the Fortescue River catchment, associated with the Hamersley Ranges, to enhance biodiversity values, control invasive species (including WoNS and camels) and reduce the impacts of soil erosion.

• Facilitate Pilbara community engagement and participation in natural resource management.

Property plans will be completed for all willing properties within the Fortescue catchment. These plan will benchmark the current environmental situation on the property as well as documenting the current management techniques used within the catchment. The plans will also set out a costed strategy to move the business forward in a sustainable and profitable way. Biosecurity plans will be included as will livestock plans where appropriate. All plans will remain the property of the land manager and will not be used by the Department of Agriculture and food.

A key part of the planning process is the mapping overlay excercise. This involves the land managers putting down all there inherent knowledge of their propertry on clear overlays laid over detailed landsystem, satellite and infrastructure maps. Again all maps and overlays remain the property of the station.

ESRM has secured money to fund on ground works such as fencing and waterpoint relocation that contribute to the improved management of the Fortescue catchment. These funded on gorund works will be allocated once all the participating properties have completed an ESRM property plan. Only properties which have completed an ESRM property plan will be able to apply for funding.

If you are a land manager in the Fortescue catchment area and would like ESRM to conduct a porperty plan on your property please contact us.

To see the properties included in the Fortescue catchment please click here.