Project overview
The You can't manage what you can't measure project looked at ways to understand local kangaroo populations and how to better manage them.
You Cant Manage What You Cant Measure
An innovative Western Local Land Services project aims to develop a tool to predict kangaroo movement and grazing pressure. This tool will be critical in allowing timely management of kangaroos for environmental health and farm productivity.
Project objectives
This project developed a prototype of a web-based planning tool to predict kangaroo movement and numbers at the property level. The goal of this web app was to help with timely management of kangaroo grazing pressure for environmental health and farm productivity.
Project background
Unsustainable kangaroo numbers can lead to overgrazing, damage landscapes and may even accelerate the onset of drought.
Understanding and managing total grazing pressure from kangaroos and other unmanaged herbivores, as well as domestic stock, is the key influence on groundcover and sustainable land management.
Population estimates of kangaroos are only available at the harvest zone level, not at a local property level. This can make it challenging for landholders to understand the movement and density of kangaroos on their property and in their local area.
Project delivery
Work included:
- research to develop a Density Surface Model (DSM) digital tool
- aerial drone surveys to ground truth the estimates made by the predictive tool
- development of a web-based extension application that was provided to the participating landholders.
Project outcomes
Aerial surveys
Aerial surveys using a DJI Matrice 300 drone were undertaken on 5 participating properties to validate the estimates from the predictive tool between November 2021 and March 2022.
Density Surface Model predictive app
A DSM digital tool was developed to be capable of predicting kangaroo density at a resolution of 1km².
The DSM tool was shared with participating landholders and a broader audience via a webinar, showing how the tool could provide important information about how to better manage total grazing pressure from kangaroos at the property scale.
A web-based extension application was also created to communicate the model predictions to participating landholders in the project.
Podcast episodes
The project also contributed 5 podcast episodes to the Western region Pastoral poddy, outlining kangaroo management issues and opportunities, and the project outcomes. These episodes covered:
- the complex issues surrounding kangaroo management, including approaches like translocation, fertility control, culling and commercial harvesting
- how landholders are better managing kangaroo numbers on their property using the new research from this project
- how the use of new tools and being proactive instead of reactive, will help both landholders and kangaroos in this challenging situation
- the diversity of views that Aboriginal people have about kangaroo management, and ideas about how the industry and government can help improve community access and involvement through the use of cultural tags, as well as providing work opportunities for Indigenous people
- how education, consultation and innovation can be part of the solution.
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Funding and partnerships
This project was delivered by Local Land Services with assistance from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
The project was assisted by funding from the Future Drought Fund, an Australian Government program.
For more information about this project, please contact Ron Finlay, Project Coordinator Kangaroo Management on 0428 318 020 or at ronald.finlay@lls.nsw.gov.au.
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