Over the past three years, the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board, Minnipa Agricultural Centre, students from Cleve and Karcultaby Area Schools and many other volunteers have been involved in a program called Biodiversity in Grain and Graze (BiGG). BiGG is a national initiative through the University of Tasmania, designed to establish the benefits of biodiversity in mixed farming systems.

There were a total of 9 farms involved on the Eyre Peninsula, with local NRM Officers, bird enthusiasts, school children and landholders taking part in data collection. The data was collected through various methods. Plant species diversity was measured using vegetation surveys, invertebrate numbers were calculated by setting pitfall traps, bird numbers and activity were assessed with bird surveys and soil microbial activity was gauged using cotton strips buried in the soil.

This sampling would occur over a three-week period and was undertaken twice per year from autumn 2006 through to spring 2007.

Results so far have included over 80 different families of insects found and more than 60 species of birds sighted on the Eyre Peninsula alone. The Southern Scrub-robin, Purple-gaped Honeyeater and the Western Yellow Robin are considered uncommon and were just a few of the species found. The invertebrate sampling has been undertaken on the Eyre Peninsula at largely un-researched sites so there may be some exciting new invertebrate discoveries.

It is hoped that once the results have been released, the true benefits of maintaining a balance between biodiversity and production will start to be seen, not only on the Eyre Peninsula, but also throughout Australia.

The University of Tasmania will be providing the EP NRM Board with updates as information becomes available.

If you are interested and would like to know more, please call the EP NRM Board on 86 827 555 or Kim Heynen at the Streaky Bay PIRSA Office on 86 261 108.

AUTHOR: Sue Rumbelow, Business Support Consultant, Rural Solutions SA
CONTACT: Sue Rumbelow, PIRSA/Rural Solutions SA Streaky Bay office, Telephone: 08 8626 1108, Email: rumbelow.sue@saugov.sa.gov.au