GUNBOWER Forest was the object of international attention recently, as Brazilian documentary makers spent two days in the area to document its environmental watering program.
Working for Brazilian channel TV Globo, the largest television station across South America, the reporters were working on a documentary series showing how other parts of the world were dealing with drought and irrigation issues.
The largest country in Latin American is currently experiencing its worst drought in almost a century, with reservoirs in its most populous city, Sao Paulo, almost running completely dry.
The crew, headed by leading Brazilian journalist Antonio Ferreira, visited California and Sydney before arriving at Gunbower earlier this month.
Their intended goal was to influence the future direction and agricultural policies of their government, and were directed to Gunbower by the Murray Darling Basin Authority, who recommended it for its successful watering program and iconic river red gum trees.
“They talked about how they felt the [Brazilian] government hadn’t acted early enough; they waited until it sort of got to crisis point,” North Central Catchment Management Authority’s Gunbower Forest project officer Anna Chatfield said.
“Even the fact they wanted to come here and have a look was a compliment to Australia. It shows Australia’s really advanced in terms of its environmental watering program and trying to balance the needs of productive agriculture alongside the environment.”
Ms Chatfield described the crew as very friendly and genuinely interested, with a burning desire to see kangaroos.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Monday’s Guardian (March 30).
