Driven by natural selection, the bush gave rise to the macadamia. So it makes good sense to grow the two together, say farmers.

We sometimes forget that our country’s most successful native export was a product of the bush. And for tens of thousands of years, the two were inseparable.

Rising animal numbers, species invasions, erosion and water quality were tightly controlled by the rainforest’s very own highly sophisticated, integrated management system.

In fact, nature’s solutions are so clever that today’s ecologists admit they are only scratching the surface when it comes to how much we really understand.
Meanwhile, many macadamia farmers are discovering just how easy it is to tap into these benefits by planting rainforest or protecting remnants on their properties. What’s more, it’s making day to day farm life more enjoyable.
John Gillett manages five macadamia farms on behalf of clients as well as his own. “I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t do it,” says John, also a member of the Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Group.

“If you do nothing, you’ll get tobacco bush and lantana and rats because they’re both favoured foods of rats. If you plant your rainforest and it’s good rainforest you won’t have rats in them.”

Several of the farms managed by John are located within the water catchment area of Emigrant Creek Dam, which currently supplies water to a population of approximately 15,000 people in Ballina and Lennox Head. The regeneration and restoration work carried out on these and other properties is said to improve the condition of the catchment as well as have a beneficial effect on the quality of surface waters draining from the water catchment area.

“Rainforest regeneration along stream courses creates a buffer zone between the agricultural activity and streams flowing through the catchment,” says Anthony Acret, Catchment Manager for Rous Water.

“This provides a range of chemical, physical and ecological benefits including filtering of sediments and nutrients, the improvement of stream bank stability, and the creation of a range of riparian and rainforest habitats.”

“These works promote ecosystem recovery and support essential natural in-stream processes that sustain water quality,” he said.

As an industry, John Gillet believes macadamia farming has a responsibility to protect water quality and biodiversity in the area. The good news is that more and more farmers are not only taking positive action but are experiencing economic and lifestyle benefits as a result.

Farmer Rex Harris reckons hundreds of people are doing fantastic work in his district. Anyone not convinced would just need to take a look at Rex’s planting and remnant restoration results at Piccadilly Park as they “speak for themselves”.
The 208-acre property, located just south of Bangalow on the southern boundary of the Byron Shire, was mainly used for cattle breeding with a small 1,500 Macadamia tree orchard. The farm now has incredible 17 700 Macadamia trees, 25 000 native rainforest trees and 6000 sedges around its dams and wetlands.

“Bird life has increased dramatically which must be a major plus to assist with insect control,” says Rex. “The bird song in the morning and evenings is special particularly when you have helped to provide the habitat.”

A series of innovative trials are also taking place at Piccadilly Park, designed to mimic and ‘kick start’ some of the rainforest’s natural answers to pest control.
“We prefer not to use any rat poisons and have installed six Barn Owl boxes to provide nesting locations together with approximately 30 bamboo pole roosts in locations where rat habitat is prolific.”

Also on trial are two large metal cone Rat Traps as well as four Micro Bat boxes to attract insectivorous bats. The aim, says Rex, is to establish a colony of micro bats to help control moths and other insects that proliferate about the orchard during the evenings, including Nut borer and Fruit Spotting Bug.

Since starting an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program last season, monthly bug checking is now carried out. “Some maca growers don’t use the IPM method and spray automatically at least four times during the nut production season,” says Rex.

“We have only done one total blanket spray at the beginning of last season, so out of a possible eight spray applications over two fruiting seasons, our spraying is down by over 80%.”

“Less spraying has allowed our beneficial insect numbers to increase steadily.”
Owls, carpet snakes and beneficial insects are quick to set up residence in the rainforest, say the farmers.

“There is nothing better than watching the wildlife as you work,” says Ken Dory, whose family grows about 250 acres of macadamias on a total farm area of 1600 acres.

Neil Sowerby is another farmer enjoying the return of wildlife to his 27-hectare property, located in Brooklet. “I believe there is a real place for rainforest plantings along creeks and rivers adjoining macadamia plantations,” says Neil.
“This provides for bank stability while acting as a buffer for pesticide applied to the macadamia plantation.”

But Neil admits his main motivation is to help a variety of native species establish and thrive. At the same time, he’s noticing how much visitors enjoy the restored areas.

“I am sure that the areas of rainforest will increase the capital value of the property,” he says.

Ken Dory would agree. “A sales brochure that just has humpteen trees is not near as impressive as humpteen trees, rainforest and creek with lots of wildlife,” he says.

And the same goes for Piccadilly Park. “We believe that the Creek meandering through the re-established planting will be our greatest asset,” says Rex Harris.
When you talk to these farmers, you can’t help but feel inspired – and only a handful of the benefits they reported have been listed here. It seems macadamias and rainforest were made for one another. Or should that be macadamia farmers and rainforest?

What these farmers share is a deep sense of appreciation for the intrinsic value and natural beauty of the rainforest; a trait otherwise known as “a beautiful mind”.

The recent coming together of the Australian Macadamia Society, Rous Water and Rainforest Rescue is sure to bring more opportunities and incentives for farmers to take up this great work. Together, we would like to congratulate all of the ‘pioneers’ of rainforest restoration on macadamia farmland.

Executive Officer, Andrew Heap is proud that the AMS is a supporter and strongly believes that the diversity still left standing can be protected.

Rainforest Rescue is a national, not for profit organisation committed to saving our rainforests for current and future generations. Find out how you can become a member by writing to Rainforest Rescue, PO Box 1511 Toowong Qld 4066, Email info@rainforestrescue.org.au

The Australian Macadamia Society is a body of over 700 members representing all facets of the Macadamia industry in Australia. For more information phone (02) 6622 4933, Email admin@macadamias.org

Rous Water is a regional water supply authority on the Far North Coast of NSW that supplies water to urban areas within the local council areas of Ballina, Byron, Lismore, and Richmond Valley. Rous Water promotes and conducts rainforest regeneration activities in the water catchment areas at Rocky Creek Dam, Emigrant Creek Dam, the Proposed Dunoon Dam and the Wilsons River catchment and conducts rainforest regeneration activities to ensure healthy catchments and to provide effective water supply protection for the future.

For more information on Rous Water catchment management programs, contact Anthony Acret on (02) 6621 8055 or email water@rouswater.nsw.gov.au

Macadamia farmers say RAINFOREST HELPS TO:

• Improve property values
• Add interest & beauty
• Attract & support wildlife
• Offer wind protection
• Limit rats & other pests
• Make day to day farm life more enjoyable
• Reduce streambank erosion
• Encourage beneficial insects, owls & carpet snakes
• Provide a sense of satisfaction
• Act as chemical filter strips & chemical drift inhibitors
• Stop machinery from going over creek banks
• Provide flowers to sustain bees when macadamias aren’t flowering
• Support a full range of fauna & flora
• Provide an excellent genetic seed resource
• Providing a base or core to add to
• Create farms that are more ‘ecologically balanced’