Townsville-Based Collaboration Towards an Ecological Fitness Paradigm

Ecological Fitness workshop participants, gathering where Bindal (to the south) and Wulgurukaba (to the north) Countries meet.

Within 1km of Townsville’s drinking water supply, an impenetrable thicket of the woody weed chinee apple (Ziziphus mauritiana) has been transformed from a noxious nuisance into a profitable resource. An innovative 1ha trial began in early 2022, which has been so successful, the area designated for the phase two trial is ten times larger and already underway. The promise continues to multiply as we consider the nearby biodiversity offset area approximately 600ha in extent, that is secured as an important refuge for the endangered black-throated finch (Poephila cincta).

Windrow of cleared chinee apple (Ziziphus mauritiana) timber on 10ha trial site

The aims of the trial are multifaceted. Sustainability has been deeply embedded in the fabric of the project to ensure the delivery of social, economic, and ecological outcomes. Social capital has been built by investing in land restoration businesses through strong partnerships between Townsville City Council and the Queensland Government’s Reef Assist program. Economic value has been generated from processing the carbon-rich biomass of the chine apple trees into a variety of products with minimal external inputs. Ecological benefits have been many and include beginning the re-establishment of an open grassy woodland habitat favoured by the Black-throated finch, Sheath tail bat and Koala.

Innovative land management systems and entrepreneurial business models do not come without their fair share of risk. The project is designed to uncover important lessons through a safe-to-fail framework. This means during the proof-of-concept stage, the small-scale pilot or trial allows for failures as opportunities to learn. With an enhanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities, an improved strategy can then be applied at a larger scale. An ambitious and long-term vision is now one step closer.

A legacy topsoil ‘borrow pit’ beyond the edge of the trial site, where chinee apple (Ziziphus mauritiana) stands are still evident on the right-hand-side

As part of this next step, a collaborative workshop was held on-site in mid-September 2023, with many organisations represented. The Mulloon Institute was proud to participate in the conversations around land restoration and Ecological Fitness. This new paradigm holds much promise in guiding regenerative land management, acknowledging the powerful and positive role of people in caring for Country. The workshop gathering was held where Bindal (to the south) and Wulgurukaba (to the north) Countries meet.

The project is actively listening to and blending knowledge from First Nations’ and scientific perspectives. With no final end state or fixed destination, the Ecological Fitness paradigm encourages us to embrace an ongoing commitment to attaining and sustaining a healthier environment and society as two sides of the same coin.

On-site works and Ecological Fitness workshop facilitation delivered by Townsville City Council and Queensland Government’s Reef Assist program.