Trees, farming and soil biodiversity webinar – 11 September 2020

Posted on 8 September, 2020 by Frances

We know that our efforts to restore native vegetation have multiple benefits to the environment and our social services. Soil Science Australia and the University of New England are presenting an online webinar about the benefits to soils associated with planting native vegetation. It will be a fascinating and informative event, delivered by an expert in the field, Associate Professor Brian Wilson.

Trees, Farming and Soil Biodiversity: the intersect between science and practice for sustainable soils
Friday 11 September 2020
2.00 pm to 3.15 pm AEST

The Environmental Trust Grant NSW funded work that began in 2018 to investigate the environmental benefits derived from mixed native tree and shrub plantings in Australian landscapes on soil biodiversity. The primary goal was to test if native trees and shrub establishment improves or restores soil biodiversity and their associated functions.

They measured changes in soil properties and soil biota for environmental plantings over time, and compared results with reference sites (agricultural paddocks, native vegetation remnants) established since mid-1990s across New South Wales to determine the optimum soil biodiversity outcomes of environmental plantings.

Four speakers will have 10 minutes each with opportunities for questions after each speaker (about 5 minutes):

Assoc Prof Brian Wilson – Soil organic matter and carbon across a chronosequence of environmental plantings in SE Australia
Ms Apsara Amarasinghe – Response of soil microbial population to environmental plantings through time
Assoc Prof Lisa Lobry de Bruyn – Ant nest density and distribution – a potential response indicator of environmental tree planting for ecological restoration
Dr Oliver Knox – Measuring change in soil function for diverse stakeholders: matching soil science with on-ground practice

For further information and to register – click here