PEAT Southwest

Through the project we are: 

Protecting Peatland Ecosystems and Addressing Threats in Southwestern Australia – is a five-year collaborative project working to improve our understanding, protection and management of peatlands across the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia.

The project is co-led by The University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University and guided by Noongar Elders. It brings together researchers, Traditional Owners, government agencies, natural resource management organisations, conservation groups and environmental specialists.

The project builds on earlier research in the Walpole Wilderness Area and is expanding this work across the broader distribution of peatlands in southwestern Australia. The aim is to connect research and local knowledge with practical management and on-ground action.

PEAT Southwest is supported by The Ian Potter Foundation and Lotterywest. The project is co-led by The University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University, guided by

Noongar Elders, and delivered in collaboration with the Walpole-Nornalup National Parks Association, Undalup Association, the Western Australian Museum, Biologic Environmental, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, South Coast NRM and South West NRM.

What we are doing

South Coast NRM is supporting the regional delivery of PEAT Southwest across the South Coast, working with catchment partners, landholders, Aboriginal ranger groups, researchers, government agencies and other partners.

Key areas of work include:

• Identifying and mapping peatlands – improving our understanding of where peatlands occur across the region and their characteristics, condition and ecological values.
• Assessing peatland condition and threats – working with researchers and local partners to better understand the pressures affecting peatlands, including drying, fire, feral animals, weeds and land-use impacts.
• Supporting practical management – translating research and field knowledge into management approaches and targeted on-ground actions to protect and restore peatland ecosystems.
• Building local capacity and awareness – working with landholders, Aboriginal ranger groups and the broader community to increase understanding of peatlands and support their long-term protection.

Through this work, South Coast NRM is helping connect the growing body of scientific knowledge about peatlands with practical conservation action on the ground.