Wild for Wetlands

World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on 2 February, and this year, is exploring the deep-rooted connections between wetlands and cultural practices, traditions and knowledge systems of communities around the world!
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This year’s theme, ‘Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage’ spotlights the timeless role of traditional knowledge in sustaining wetland ecosystems and preserving cultural identity.

Wetlands are land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally. They provide habitat, support biodiversity, and offer significant economic, cultural, and recreational benefits. Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.

Wetlands take different forms in various landscapes, and can be categorised as inland wetlands, coastal wetlands, or human made wetlands.

Inland Wetlands

  • Marshes
  • Lakes
  • Rivers
  • Floodplains
  • Peatlands
  • Swamps

Coastal Wetlands

  • Saltwater marshes
  • Estuaries
  • Mangroves
  • Lagoons
  • Coral Reefs

Human Made Wetlands

  • Ponds
  • Rice paddies
  • Salt pans

Coastal Wetlands – Chapman River Estuary

For First Nations peoples, water is a sacred source of life. The natural flow of water sustains aquatic ecosystems that are central to our spirituality, our social and cultural economy and wellbeing. The rivers are the veins of Country, carrying water to sustain all parts of our sacred landscape. The wetlands are the kidneys, filtering the water as it passes through the land.

Across the Northern Agricultural Region, many mob believe that our waterways were carved out by Bimarra, a powerful Dreamtime serpent. As the guardian of water sources, Bimarra is paid respects through the long-standing tradition of throwing a handful of sand into the water when visiting local waterways.

If you’re looking to learn more about wetlands, check out these local events!

‘Our Estuaries’ Photo Exhibition

‘Our Estuaries’ not only celebrates the estuaries of Chapman and Greenough, it also showcases the talent of local photographers! While the competition has closed, a selection of entries is currently on exhibition at the Geraldton Regional Library, located at 37 Marine Terrace, Geraldton. Check it out and cast your vote for the People’s Choice Prize before the exhibition closes on 3 March 2026.

Learn more

This initiative is a collaborative effort between NACC NRM, the City of Greater Geraldton, Birdlife Midwest-Geraldton, Greenough River Friends and Chapman River Friends.

FREE Guided Wetland Walks

Celebrate World Wetlands Day with a stroll along our stunning local estuaries, led by NACC NRM, Birdlife Midwest-Geraldton, Greenough River Friends and Chapman River Friends. Watch the estuary come to life, learn about wetland ecosystems and wildlife, and explore the beauty of the Greenough and Chapman Estuaries with local experts!

1 February 2026 | 7:00am – 8:00am | Greenough River Boat Shed | Learn more

8 February 2026 | 7:00am – 8:00am | Chapman River End Swan Drive Carpark | Learn more

NACC NRM is committed to engaging the community in protecting and restoring wetlands, home to the Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) of saltmarsh.

Safeguarding saltmarsh is an important cause for NACC NRM; our Coastal & Marine team have been hard at work delivering our project, ‘Improving Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh in the Northern Agricultural Region’. This project aims to identify, assess, conserve and then manage TEC areas for a healthier, more sustainable future. Weed control, access control, and debris removal will be undertaken in priority areas, helping saltmarsh, wetlands, and wildlife to thrive for years to come!

This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and NACC NRM, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel. 

Channelle Reilly – Tertiary Student Volunteer

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.