Following an intense six months’ work with agriculture industry groups and local government, the North East Catchment Management Authority’s (CMA) Embedding Climate Adaptation in Agriculture (ECAiA) program was formally launched in Myrtleford last month by Dr Helen Haines, MP.

The ECAiA program was initiated in 2019 to increase the capacity of landholders, communities and local government to adapt to changes in regional climatic conditions. The first part of this five-year project saw the development of online climate modelling tools to help guide discussions and decision making around climate adaptation pathways.

Project Manager, North East CMA, Lachlan Campbell said, “This project has made it easy for people to ask questions and explore information using maps and graphs. The map-based tool provides a visual guide to the information, saving users having to wade through masses of text.”

Anticipated climate changes and their modelled impacts on agricultural productivity, in addition to water system balance impacts across the region, are presented in the online modelling platform.  This region-specific impact information will help underpin the development of tools that support farming businesses make important management decisions based on predicted climate scenarios.

“There are maps specifically for the industry groups of cropping, horticulture, viticulture, dairy, beef/sheep and forestry, providing information on the potential future climatic conditions and water balance. The knowledge and tools developed through the ECAiA will also assist councils to support the local agricultural economy,” said Mr Campbell.

Mr Campbell encourages north-east landholders to head online to the North East CMA website where the climate modelling tool, maps and a range of additional information is hosted.

“It couldn’t be easier,” said Mr Campbell, “There’s a link from the home page, and all the information is at your fingertips. There tools are specifically developed for the agricultural sector.”

Partners for this project are the North East CMA and six agricultural industry sectors (cropping, grazing, forestry, horticulture, viticulture, dairy) and six local governments. 

The initiative is supported by North East Catchment Management Authority, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

The online tool can be found at www.necma.vic.gov.au.

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Media contact: Katie Bowker, Media and Marketing Coordinator, North East CMA, 0428 469 123, katie.bowker@necma.vic.gov.au