Natural Assets on Farm

Written By Heather McGregor

Natural assets refer to the natural resources and features of a farm that contribute to both production and environmental stewardship. These include soil, native vegetation, dams and waterways, pasture, native habitat and biodiversity. Together, they support the health of the land and can improve the farm’s resilience over time.

Natural assets help build drought resilience by protecting soil, conserving moisture, and buffering the farm against heat, wind, and erosion. Optimal groundcover, native vegetation, shelterbelts, and well-managed dams and waterways can help the land stay productive for longer during dry times.

Key areas for consideration when seeking to enhance and protect natural assets on farm

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Groundcover
Groundcover

Groundcover is a key factor in drought resilience, enabling landscapes and ecosystems to cope with limited water, adapt to dry conditions, and recover more quickly when rainfall returns by maintaining soil condition and moisture.

Carbon on Farm
Carbon on Farm

Carbon on farm is a key factor in long-term sustainability and resilience, helping landscapes and ecosystems capture and store carbon while improving soil health, water retention, and productivity, enabling farms to better adapt to changing climatic conditions.

Soil Health
Soil Health

Soil health is a key factor in drought resilience, supporting landscapes and ecosystems to retain moisture, sustain plant growth, and recover more effectively from dry conditions by maintaining soil structure, nutrient cycling, and biological activity.

Dams and Waterways
Dams and Waterways

Dams and waterways are key factors in drought resilience, supporting landscapes and ecosystems by storing and distributing water, sustaining agricultural productivity, and helping communities and environments recover more effectively during prolonged dry conditions.

Biodiversity on Farm
Biodiversity on Farm

Biodiversity on farm strengthens drought resilience by encouraging balanced ecosystems, supporting pollination and natural pest control, and improving the capacity of agricultural landscapes to withstand environmental stress during extended dry periods.

This program/project of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning program received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government.

Heather McGregor
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