Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Local governments help create biodiversity corridors
This plant corridor will connect two reserves in Kununoppin and Trayning
Trainee Jayde Smeeton & NRM Officer Linda Vernon check the plants
Linda Vernon with fencing materials
In the sparse landscape of Western Australia in the north eastern Wheatbelt there are 24,000 square kilometres with less than 11 per cent remnant vegetation due to clearing. Of this more than 71 per cent of remnants are less than 20 hectares.
These last remaining remnants have inspired a rescue team of seven local governments under the banner of the North Eastern Wheatbelt Regional Organisation of Councils.
Funding
The councils and communities of Koorda, Mt Marshall, Mukinbudin, Nungarin, Trayning, Westonia and Wyalkatchem have in partnership with 117 landholders built 78 kilometres of fencing, planted 300,000 local native seedlings and set more than 10,000 dried meat baits. Funding of $240,000 was provided by the Australian Government through the Avon Catchment Council.
Activities
Project Manager Linda Vernon said the goal was a series of biodiversity corridors to help protect native plants, animals and ecological communities.
"The long-term vision is to link areas of remnant vegetation across the north eastern Wheatbelt region to the clearing line, for the purpose of fauna habitat," Linda said.
"Hopefully in the future we can re-introduce animal species back into the landscape, particularly the locally extinct Chuditch."
The Chuditch - also known as the Western Quoll - is recognisable by its distinctive white spots on a background of brown fur. It's estimated there are less than 6000 of these marsupials remaining.
The corridors project connects focal reserves or areas of remnant vegetation that had both significant environmental values and social values to the local community - like granite outcrops popular for picnic areas; a saline lake system for water skiing; or an area with spectacular wildflowers.
Within each municipality the community identified its focal reserve: Koorda - Mollerin Rocks; Mt Marshall - Lake McDermott; Mukinbudin - Beringbooding Rock; Nungarin - Lake Campion/Eaglestone Rock; Trayning - Billyacatting Hill Nature Reserve; Westonia - Westonia Common and Wyalkatchem - Korrelocking Nature Reserve.
In 2005, 33 landholders took part in replanting, 10 landholders helped with fencing and 84 joined in fox baiting programs. Once the landholder agreed to participate in the project a site visit was arranged and information provided about the landholder's commitments (for example - ripping, weeding or rabbit control) in exchange for seedlings and fencing.
Monitoring
A booklet was also handed out to landholders explaining the importance of monitoring and how it is carried out, with pages for activity details and before-and-after photos.
More information
- Linda Vernon, Project Manager: (08) 9683 1001 or clc@trayning.wa.gov.au
See also
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window