By Alison Goundrey, Conservation Council of Western Australia
The 2023 Seaview Park Living with Nature Forum ‘A Sense of Place’ hosted by the Community Association and supported by funding from NACC NRM was held on 22nd July!
An appreciative audience of over 40 people came from Ocean Farms, Lancelin, Seabird, Guilderton, Jurien Bay, and Perth, with representatives from the Department of Fire & Emergency Services (DFES), the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions (DBCA), and the Shire of Gingin.
Setting the sense of place theme, Dr Nic Dunlop opened with a presentation on the jewel that is Lancelin Island; its intriguing history, and its value as one of WA’s most important seabird Nature Reserves.
Moving into the hinterland, the Bee Keeping Council of WA’s Dr Mat Welch provided compelling insights into the vital role this region’s heathlands and banksias play in the security of honey production. There were many common threads between this and Birdlife’s Black-Cockatoo Project Officer Merryn Pryor highlighting food plants provided by the natural vegetation of the estate, and ways to enhance properties and gardens with other suitable foraging plants for these magnificent and endangered birds.
Visiting a specially designed ‘Cocky Corner’. Photos: Nic Dunlop
This provided a segue for Alison Goundrey who spoke about alternative management to burning that might be used to manage this landscape, keeping it safe for residents, yet protecting the very biodiversity of plants and animals that so many live here to enjoy.
Four slash/mulch trial plots, also supported by NACC NRM, are currently being trialed across Seaview Park and the day ended with onsite visits. With baseline vegetation surveys conducted prior to the process, these sites will now be monitored by local citizen science volunteers over the years to come.
This project was supported by NACC NRM with funding from the Australian Government.
