TALS Institute
The Australian Landscape Science
Following the Blueprint of the Australian Landscape
to Restore Australia by 2030
PETER ANDREWS OAM
Chair
”Australia could lead the world in climate recovery.” For over 40 years, Peter Andrews OAM has been on a mission to help farmers, environmentalists and bureaucrats understand that the abundance of the old Australian landscape grew through the function of plants, water, sunlight and gravity. Peter is a founding Director at The Australian Landscape Science Institute (TALS Institute), sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of Rain for Climate and has played a crucial role in the community rehydration project at The Mulloon Institute. He is also teaching landscape science with Tarwyn Park Training. Find out more about Peter Andrews on his private website.
Example of a TALS project:
CR JOHN FRY
Director
John has designed and managed environmental engineering projects with local government, Landcare, Rivercare, Coastcare, Bushcare throughout NSW and Queensland since 1992. Until recently, John managed the Green Army program. He has developed a network of partners to adapt to climate change and repair degraded and eroded landscapes with Permaculture and Natural Sequence Farming methodologies.
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PROPOSALS TO GOVERNMENT
https://www.tals.org.au/submissions.html
PROPOSAL:
ADVISORY PANEL AS
ADVISORY BOARD TO GOVERNMENT
4 April 2019
TALS INSTITUTE PROPOSAL: ADVISORY PANEL AS ADVISORY BOARD TO GOVERNMENT
On 4 April 2019, TALS Institute submitted a proposal to Government asking for support and funding of the Advisory Panel to enable climate recovery, productivity increase and biodiversity protection through the roll-out of large scale landscape restoration projects across Australia based on the Whole of Landscape Approach.
In addition, in our proposal:
- We recommended that the Commonwealth Government appoint the Advisory Panel to become an independent advisory board to the the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy to assist the Government in meeting Australia’s international obligations of biodiversity protection and CO2 reduction under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. Suggested names are ‘Drought Resilience Council’, ‘Carbon Drawdown Council’, ‘Biodiversity and Carbon Drawdown Council’.
- We noted that none of the current Advisory Boards to Government appear to be advising on Best Practice Landscape Restoration and Management, that would have the effect of drawing down carbon while increasing land productivity and biodiversity, and that would assist the Australian Government to meet its duty of care to the public as well as international obligations.
- We recommended that the Government review all existing Government Advisory Boards that advise on land and water management, in particular those advising the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy on their efficiency and effectiveness in meeting Australia’s international obligations in CO2 reduction and biodiversity protection.
PROPOSAL:
CREATION OF
DROUGHT RESILIENCE COUNCIL
BY FUTURE DROUGHT FUND BILL 2018
25 January 2019
TALS INSTITUTE SUBMISSION: LEGISLATIVE CREATION OF A DROUGHT RESILIENCE COUNCIL
COUNCIL On 6 December 2018, the Senate referred the Future Drought Fund Bill 2018 and Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2018 (’the Bills’) to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee (‘the Senate Committee’) for inquiry and report.
The Senate Committee invited The Australian Landscape Science Institute (TALS Institute) to make a submission on the Bills.
While we support the Bills in principle, in our submission dated 25 January 2019, we proposed the legislative creation of a Drought Resilience Council, similar to the existing Whole of Landscape Landscape Advisory Panel, by the Future Drought Fund Bill 2018.FUTURE DROUGHT FUND BILL 2018 – SENATE COMMITTEE REPORT REJECTS TALS INSTITUTE PROPOSAL On 8 February 2019, the Senate Committee recommended that the Future Drought Fund Bill 2018 be passed (see their Report at https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Finance_and_Public_Administration/FutureDroughtFundBills/Report).
The Senate Committee rejected the proposal by TALS institute to create a Drought Resilience Council. The Senate Committee explained its recommendations as follows:
At page 15 of the Report, the Senate Committee acknowledges TALS Institute having “recommended the establishment of a Drought Resilience Council (DRC) as a ‘whole of landscape’ advisory body to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Department of the Environment and Energy. The DRC would provide advice on the development of the plan.” [emphasis added]
At page 17, the Senate Committee further notes, and then concludes: “The committee further noted that several submissions suggested an alternative approach to the consultative processes for the development of the Future Drought Fund Plan by the establishment of a permanent statutory expert advisory body to provide overarching advice on funding decisions. However, the committee considers the consultative arrangements established by the bill are appropriate as they provide greater flexibility to the government in the longer term to seek the advice of a wide range of interested stakeholders.” [emphasis added]
TALS Institute acknowledges the recommendation of the Senate Committee not to include the establishment of an Advisory Board in the Future Drought Fund Bill. We continue to support the Future Drought Fund Bill.
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Both photos in 2019 and 2020 were taken in June and really show what can happen in one year. By regreening this kind of degraded land on a large scale, we can cool down the planet, protect vulnerable biodiversity, secure water and food availability and improve the lives of so many people! DIG IN
Peter Stevens, Lecturer, Reseach Associate, University of Newcastle UON), Australia
Degree Name: Master’s Degree
Field Of Study: Environmental Science
Grade: MPhil
An evaluation of microrelief undertaken over twenty years, showed how to retain available rain and soils in situ to foster soil and biomass development. This study forms the basis for wider land recovery projects and radical change in the human environment design paradigm. The fundamental target of human activity must now be to create a net positive accumulation of humus and soil carbon and biomass, as a water, food and climate imperative. This must occur a a local, regional and global scale. Microreleif reflects the topographic variability of the most productive ecosystems, and is readily implemented across tenure. Less than 10% of the human landscape can be treated to secure all available moisture and support a climate moderating biomass. The approach provides for biodiversity conservation above and beyond the protected area network, and for new moist forest ecosystems to be established across the continent, restoring the local water cycle and moderating climate.
These are the patterns [cf. photo] of accumulation that build fertility and deep hydration biomass.
As outlined in my 1992 – 2010 research (University of Newcastle) we can affect rapid change in landscape health by matching the scale and pattern of microtopographic interventions to slope, rainfall and remnant soil character. Peter Andrews also demonstrated how to harness the natural fertility sequence.
I call on the Australian govt to invest $55bn immediately to return water and biomass to the natural hydration mosaic. We know how.
Like all govts. before them, the current Scott Morrison govt. knows the solution exists, has the power to lead in reversing disastrous erosion and desertification, and is thus complicit in the ongoing degradation of this continent.
Three absolutes apply. These are borne out in the history of civilisations now passed.
1. Without a deeply charged landscape hydration mosaic covered by a complex biota, there is desert, fire and economic collapse.
2. The rate of desertification induced by colonial landuse in Australia (through clearing, grazing, ploughing, draining etc) is unprecedented in human history
3. Climate variability and risk have been rapidly accelerated by the failure of ALL govts to ensure deep hydration across the continent. Opportunity knocks.
