Reflections of the 2017 WA Threatened Species Forum

By James Hagan. NACC’s biannual WA Threatened Species Forum aims to provide information on conservation priorities...
Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 Reflections of the 2017 WA Threatened Species Forum
James Hagan, second from right, is joined by NACC's own Stanley Yokwe at the 2017 WA Threatened Species Forum.
Trace Martyn, Chrissy Elmer and James Hagan from Mayfield Lab are joined by NACC’s own Stanley Yokwe at the 2017 WA Threatened Species Forum.
By James George Hagan

NACC’s biannual WA Threatened Species Forum aims to provide information on conservation priorities, ongoing interventions and scientific research for threatened species in Western Australia.

In this respect, I found the conference useful and engaging. The talks provided a dynamic mix of local- and international-scale conservation information. Furthermore, the topics covered were diverse. They included everything from novel, empirical science to fund-raising citizen science and touched upon government policy. The broad conservation message and wide-ranging topics were valuable.

As an ecology researcher in the region, I was most intrigued by the empirical science. Alison Ritchie and Wolfgang Lewandrowski gave excellent talks on ecological restoration. Ritchie’s work on restoring ecological interactions in fragmented banksia woodlands was highly relevant to my own research and I hope to apply some of her ideas in my own study system; the York-Gum Jam Woodlands. Lewandrowski’s work coupled restoration ecology with plant functional traits. His results have indirect but clear applications for ongoing projects related to community assembly patterns in the York-Gum Jam Woodlands and elsewhere. Thus, the Forum exposed me to an unfamiliar literature which contained several lessons for my own work in the region.

Although I enjoyed the empirical science most, the conservation-oriented talks were extremely useful for me personally. Ecology students and researchers like myself are often disconnected from on-ground conservation work. The combined message of several talks throughout the Forum covered the threatened species conservation process in WA superbly. This included fund-raising for threatened species, land rehabilitation and management, citizen-science, ecological monitoring, conservation messaging along with local and international policy.

Overall, I found this highly stimulating and NACC deserves immense credit here. It gave me several ideas on where my own research fits into threatened species conservation and avenues where I could contribute.

Finally, several speakers and attendees were simply inspirational individuals and provided clear calls to action for threatened species conservation in WA and Australia. Carlos Drews in particular was a highly engaging speaker and gave a clear message that action, both collectively and individually, is necessary for effective conservation. Similarly, Gregory Andrews, the Threatened Species Commissioner, was infectious in his enthusiasm for conservation in Australia. These individuals give hope and energy to the conservation movement and motivated me strongly to continue to do more.

Overall, I thank NACC for the opportunity to be part of the Forum. Myself and my colleagues from the Mayfield Lab at the University of Queensland are new to the region. The Forum allowed us to make several new contacts and I am sure that those relationships will be profitable for future threatened species conservation projects in the region.

 

Many thanks and best regards,

James

 

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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.