Riparian means riverbank. From an ecological perspective, riparian land adjoins, regularly influences or is influenced by a river.

Riparian land is vitally important to the health of a waterway, both in an aquatic and terrestrial sense. 

Since 2002, over 25,000 ha of riparian land has been protected and improved through stock exclusion, weed control and revegetation.

Over 7,000 km of existing riparian vegetation has been fenced and 469 km of bank stabilisation works have been undertaken.

Partnerships with adjacent landholders who use the riparian areas have been critical to the success of riparian restoration works.

Considerable progress has been made to formalise management arrangements and responsibilities, providing better long-term protection for riparian areas.

The 2011 target of having 7000 ha under management agreements has already been surpassed.

Since 2002, a total of 6,473 landholder agreements have been established, allowing for the protection of around 17,000 ha of riparian areas.