Biodiversity

NACC NRM's Biodiversity team collaborates with communities, Aboriginal groups, and govt to protect and restore the NAR’s unique flora and fauna, managing ongoing threats.
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The Northern Agricultural Region is home to three of Australia’s 15 biodiversity hotspots, and is part of the internationally-recognised Southwest Australia Biodiversity Hotspot.

Biodiversity encompasses plants, animals, micro-organisms, and the ecosystems they inhabit. It is the foundation of all life support systems, providing clean air and water, nourishing food, pollination for crops, and invaluable spiritual and recreational benefits to communities.

The Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) is home to three of Australia’s 15 biodiversity hotspots and forms part of the renowned Southwest Australia Biodiversity Hotspot. This unique region is known for its extraordinary natural diversity, particularly in plant species, and is the only internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot in Australia. The conservation and protection of this area is of global importance.

Within the NAR, approximately 7,623 native species thrive, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and micro-organisms. Of these, around 6% (487 taxa) are endemic, found nowhere else in the world.

The NAR’s rich biodiversity is not only vital for environmental health but also for the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector, which relies on the essential ecosystem services it provides. Beyond agriculture, the region’s natural assets contribute to health, wellbeing, and tourism. The loss of biodiversity threatens both the environment’s health and the economic productivity of farmers and local communities.

NACC NRM’s Biodiversity team works closely with local communities, First Nations groups, industry professionals and government to protect, restore, and manage the local flora and fauna, while addressing ongoing threats. These collaborative partnerships aim to safeguard the region’s natural treasures for future generations.

With the support of the NAR community, NACC NRM is working to ensure the region’s habitats, ecosystems, and landscapes are valued, resilient, and protected for years to come.

Watching for Wabarl - Malleefowl Monitoring with MARP Rangers
Native Planting Guide: Coastal Gardens
Native Planting Guide: Inland Gardens
Fact Sheet: Banksia Woodlands Threatened Ecological Community
Case Study Fact Sheet: Creekline Conservation - Kapari Farm
Case Study Fact Sheet: The Goode Stuff - Howatharra
Case Study Fact Sheet: Riparian Restoration - Erregulla Farm
Case Study: Increasing Ground Cover and Protecting Bush - Mick O'Brien
Case Study: Re-Greening the Coonderoo at Eagle Hill Farm - Doug Joyce
Case Study: Bushland and Business Benefit From Fencing - Suzanne & Mark Wilson
Case Study: Koobabbie Farm - Alison Doley
Case Study: Wannamal Waterway Fencing Protecting Both Bush & Livestock - Max Smith

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Position 4

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Jarna Kendle

Biodiversity Program Coordinator

Georgia Cella

Biodiversity Project Officer

Annabelle Garratt

Biodiversity Project Officer

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Geraldton Office

4 Walton Close, Geraldton
Post: PO Box 7168, Geraldton, 6531
Phone: (08) 9938 0100
Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm

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CEO’s Report

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.