With changes in climate and the need to manage our water efficiently and sustainably, it is timely that we aim to manage all the elements of our local water cycle well.

Wetlands play a critical role in this cycle. The wider Orange landscape sits above others, within the first and second order of our river systems.

Local wetlands are known as headwater, upland and montane wetlands.

It is estimated that wetlands cover six per cent of the earth’s surface, many existing in the upstream parts of river catchments.

Wetlands and swamps were once considered not important and people dredged, drained, filled and dammed them. This was the case locally, to the extent of governments paying landowners to drain them.

We have now come to realise this was detrimental.

Some fine examples of rehabilitated wetlands exist within Orange, but the broader rural lands would benefit from rehabilitating those within the local rural landscape.

Vegetated wetland ecosystems provide a natural water treatment system, better than anything that humans have ever created.

In September two documentaries were screened at the Environmental Learning Facility: ‘The Importance of Swampy Meadows’ and ‘Buffers, sponges and Moderators’.

These documentaries describe the integral role swamps and wetlands play in our environment.

Lisa Paton from Neville Landcare has an extensive knowledge. She addressed the September screening, along with Tim Nalder from Central Tablelands Local Land Service, who detailed grant funding opportunities for land owners and highlighted the work done identifying areas prioritised for biodiversity connectivity work.

Farmers can revive water-starved landscapes by taking advantage of natural water systems with rehabilitation.

The Australian Story program on October 29 featured Peter and Stuart Andrews describing how Natural Sequence Farming can be used by land owners to reinstate the natural processes of the water cycle, recreating the stepped land formation that connects chains of ponds that existed before European settlement, returning regenerative farming practices and increasing agricultural and economic profitability.