The North Central Catchment Management Authority is running a series of public forums across the region, seeking feedback on the major challenges confronting landowners.

The first of five forums will be held this Tuesday at Pyramid Hill.

Others are scheduled for Trentham, St Arnaud, Castlemaine and Charlton.

Climate change and extreme climate variability have already taken a heavy toll on primary producers in central Victoria, through the effects of the Millenium drought and heavy floods in 2010 and 2011.

In response,the  CMA has developed a pair of documents considered crucial to the future of the region's natural environment and agriculture.

The Draft North Central Region Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Plan and the Draft North Central Regional Sustainable Agriculture Strategy have been prepared over many months with strong community and stakeholder input.

CMA strategy and partnerships executive manger Rohan Hogan said there were many synergies with the two reports.

“To be a sustainable farmer you need to deal with climate change, and farmers will play a big role in protecting the region’s natural resource assets,” he said.

“Land managers in the region are no strangers to the effects of climate variability. 

“In recent decades they have had to deal with events such as the Millennium Drought and the 2010-11 floods.

“These events may have sent a strong signal of what’s to come and how it will impact the environment, economy and community.”

The forums will hear from guest land managers, who will present their own personal strategies for dealing with climate change projections, and a question and answer session.

CMA manager Tim Shanahan said the strategies came as the industry faced rapid change and the potential for unprecedented opportunities in agriculture.

He said increasing sustainable agricultural practices across the region would strengthen the future of the industry while protecting natural resources such as land and water.

“Sustainable agriculture means different things to different people, and this strategy provides a framework to achieve progress.

“We recognise each farm and the farming family are unique, so helping them to think strategically about the future is our focus. 

“We have leaned on the experience and knowledge of hundreds of farmers in the region to produce the draft strategy that also acts as a prospectus to attract investment and resources for farming sustainability.”

Forums will be held at the Pyramid Memorial Hall on August 11, Trentham Mechanics Institute (August 17), St Arnaud Community Resource Centre (August 24), Campbells Creek Community Centre, near Castlemaine (August 31) and Charlton Twon Hall (September 1).

All forums start at 7.30pm.

RSVP via email to info@nccma.vic.gov.au, or phone 5448 7124.