Primary production (agriculture, fisheries and forestry) contributes strongly to the region’s economy and social fabric but faces some significant threats if major efforts are not made to develop new innovative markets and manage more sustainable farming systems. This project assists local farmers and supporting agricultural stakeholders to adapt to changing market preferences and increase awareness and adaptability to respond to seasonal variation and extreme weather events. The project contributes to protection of marginal farm lands susceptible to climate change through: controlling stock access and establishing deep rooted ground covers, providing training and capacity to farmers and aboriginal land managers, developing agri-business opportunities utilising traditional bush foods, and developing a suite of management decision tools relating to climate across the agricultural sector.

This project sustains and enhances the ecological character of both the Lake Warden and Lake Gore Ramsar Wetlands in Esperance, through addressing key threats identified in ecological character descriptions for both systems. The project carries out works on farm lands and critical habitat in the catchment that surrounds the wetlands. The Ramsar wetlands are considered to be a major dry season refuge for waterbirds in south-western Australia including twenty five migratory waterbirds recognised under the international migratory bird agreements CAMBA, JAMBA, ROKAMBA and CMS that use these lakes as part of their annual migration. Activities in this project included re-establishing native revegetation (direct seeding and seedlings), ground covers, stock exclusion, community awareness (events, workshops and training), monitoring (bird surveys, water quality, baseline and increased community understanding), Aboriginal engagement, woody weed control and feral animal control.

Agreement for the delivery of services in the Western Australia – South Coast Management Unit as part of the Regional Land Partnerships Program. Delivery of Core Services for the South Coast Management Unit contributes to:

1.     Maintaining the currency of natural resource management planning and the prioritisation of management actions;

2.     Supporting the Community, including Landcare, Indigenous communities, and industry to participate in the delivery of Projects;

3.     Undertaking communications;

4.     Coordinating delivery of Projects and MERI;

5.     Undertaking Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator services referred to at clause 3.6 of the Statement of Work.

6.     On request by the Department, developing Project Designs and Project Proposals; and maintained a productive, cooperative and ongoing relationship with the Department.

This project contributes to improving the population trajectory, through recovery actions implemented for 3 mammals (Chuditch, Gilberts Potoroo and Western Ringtail possum), and 3 bird species (Western Ground Parrot, Australasian Bittern and Malleefowl) identified as priorities in the Threatened Species Strategy. Community groups and partner organisations are undertaking recovery actions to improve and protect key EBPC habitats. This includes invasive species control, feral animal control, protection fencing, revegetation and supporting translocations. The impact of recovery actions is being measured through establishment of a community-based monitoring protocol and establishment of community-based monitoring sites for the 6 EPBC species. The project involves Aboriginal groups in the management of threatened species through undertaking threatened species management plans, improving habitat and providing opportunities for on-Country traditional knowledge sharing.

This project contributes to improving management of 787 ha of high value Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh and Proteaceae Dominated Kwongkan Shrubland TEC’s by better managing weeds, integrated pest animal control (rabbits, foxes and cats), reducing the spread of Phytophthora, revegetation and better management of access to private lands and reserves containing TECs. The project prioritises the mitigation of key threatening processes to increase protection and improve management of the TEC’s consistent with RLP program targets. Project activities are implemented through partnerships with 6 community groups, 1 Aboriginal Native Title Group and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.