Wheatbelt surveys reveal new plant species

At least 30 new plant species have been discovered in Western Australia's Wheatbelt as a result of an Australian and State Government-funded project designed to conserve threatened woodlands on private land.

As much as 93 per cent of the Avon Wheatbelt has been cleared - mainly for agriculture - and in 2000 WWF-Australia created 'Woodland Watch' to arrest the decline in threatened tall eucalypt woodlands like Salmon Gum, Gimlet, York Gum and Red Morrel.

Senior Project Manager Native Vegetation with WWF-Australia Chris Curnow said extensive flora surveys in woodland communities laid the foundation for the project, as well as paving the way for successful partnerships with private landholders.

"Woodland Watch helps landholders appreciate that management of bush for conservation is an investment in whole farm planning and the future," he said.

Activities and achievements

"We've conducted 156 flora surveys on private land and lodged nearly 6000 plant specimens with the Western Australian Herbarium for verification. Our discovery of 30 new plant species and 28 previously undiscovered populations of rare plant species shows just how biologically diverse this area is," he said.

"As we presented the survey results to the landholders they were able to see just how unique and diverse these woodland remnants are and why we need to protect them.

"Over 150 landholders have participated in the project, a third of whom have taken the extra step of implementing conservation covenants, Land for Wildlife agreements or voluntary management agreements."

The Northern Agricultural Catchment Councils is now using the Woodland Watch program as a model to achieve private conservation management networks across the region.

In the Avon, the land-based component of the Avon Catchment Council's Healthy Ecosystems project is being delivered by the same team that ran Woodland Watch until 2005.

Healthy Ecosystems, a program delivered by WWF-Australia and the West Australian Department of Water, is drawing on many elements of Woodland Watch to protect the top ten priority ecosystems across the region.

"Healthy Ecosystems will identify the vulnerable and threatened ecosystems within the Avon River Basin and provide investment to those land managers with the highest priority ecosystems. It's anticipated the eucalypt woodlands which WWF has focused on over the last five years will be included in this category," Chris said.

"We're looking forward to assisting the council to secure further long-term commitment and support from landholders. This means we'll be helping conserve the remaining biodiversity jewels of Western Australia's Wheatbelt."

More information

1. Chris Curnow, Senior Project Manager Native Vegetation, WWF-Australia: (08) 9387 6444 or ccurnow@wwf.org.au
2. Woodland Watch website: http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/wwatch/

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