Restoring Flora and Habitats on the Amazing Abrolhos − Scholarships Open Until July 10

Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 Restoring Flora and Habitats on the Amazing Abrolhos − Scholarships Open Until July 10
Students planting at the Abrolos.
Photo credit: Batavia Coast Maritime Institute.

The Batavia Coast Maritime Institute (BCMI), Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) and Mid West environmental organisations band together to protect one of Australia’s most important seabird breeding sites.

The Abrolhos islands – a chain of 122 islands that lie approximately 70 km off the coast of Geraldton – are home to millions of birds including the largest colonies of Wedge-tailed Shearwater birds in the eastern Indian Ocean and several rare bird species that exclusively nest on only a few of the islands.

Australian Sea Lion CALM Team at the Abrolhos Islands

Over the decades, invasive weeds and loss of habitat have placed immense pressure on the bird species, as well as many other priority species including the Australian Sea Lion, Abrolhos Painted Button Quail, Brush Bronzewing, Abrolhos Spiny-tailed Skink, Abrolhos Dwarf Bearded Dragon and Carpet Python.

BCMI in partnership with NACC are working together to restore native plant biodiversity at key sites on the islands, through strategic restoration activities including local provenance native plant species and threat abatement measures.

“Protecting habitat is vital for these species to survive and thrive, and student involvement has been integral to the success of the project,” said BCMI Biodiversity Conservation Projects Manager Maryke Gray.

Another key activity undertaken by the project team is controlling Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) and other key weeds of State significance on the islands.
Australian Native Mammals Students Engaged With Agencies

Since the beginning of the project, priority weeds have been mapped on 18 different islands/islets and more than 480 hectares have been cleared via mechanical and chemical control, including community participation.

BCMI students have already planted 3,268 seedlings to date, with another 7,500 to be planted later in 2015. All of the plants are local provenance, with seed and plant propagation material collected from the islands before being propagated at the BCMI and then taken back to the islands for restoration activities.

BCMI and NACC have supported a number of project scholarships which are awarded to students enrolling in Conservation and Land Management courses at BCMI to work on the project and to provide opportunity to develop practical skills and knowledge of conservation and land management activities.

Durack offers accommodation for scholarship recipients who need to relocate to Geraldton. Durack manages the Pepperell Student Village on its main campus, walking distance to classrooms, training workshops, downtown shopping and only metres from a spectacular beach.

Self-contained units with set reasonable fees and no hidden costs make the opportunity to apply for a NACC Scholarship in Conservation and Land Management too good to miss. And wouldn’t this look good on your resume?

Applications close 10 July 2015 and courses begin early August 2015.

Applications are available online here>

“One of many highlights while studying Conservation and Land Management at BCMI has been visiting the Abrolhos islands to carry out vegetation surveys and undertake weed control”. -Jarna Kendle, 2015 Semester One Scholarship Recipient.

This project is supported by BCMI, NACC, WA Department of Fisheries, WA Department of Parks and Wildlife, Employment Plus, Geraldton Senior College and the WA Museum with funding from the Australian Government.

More information is available from bcmi@durack.edu.au or phone (08) 9956 2892.

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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.