Working Together for a Resilient South Coast
South Coast NRM continues to work in partnership with communities, landholders, industry and Traditional Owners to care for Country and strengthen the resilience of our region’s landscapes, wildlife and farming systems.
Looking Ahead for Sustainable Agriculture
At the Grower Group Alliance Forum 25, South Coast NRM joined industry leaders to explore the future of agriculture, natural capital, carbon and biodiversity. Insights from the AG2050 program highlighted the scale of change needed to ensure Australian farming systems remain productive, profitable and sustainable in the face of climate change, evolving markets and global trade uncertainty.
Back on the South Coast, welcome winter rainfall has brought both relief and challenges for farmers. In response to increasing pressure from supply chains and financiers to understand farm emissions, South Coast NRM has been working with Stirlings to Coast Farmers to deliver the Carbon: Confusion to Clarity workshop series.
This work is part of the Future Ready South Coast project, a major Climate-Smart Agriculture initiative running through to 2028. The project supports growers and land managers to adapt to climate change while navigating emerging opportunities in sustainability frameworks, carbon and nature markets.
Growing Our Sustainable Agriculture Team
Two new Sustainable Agriculture Facilitators have joined the team—Rosie (based in Albany) and Jayme (based in Esperance). Together, they are delivering the Know Your Southern Soils project and supporting farmers across the region with practical, on-ground, climate-smart solutions.
Supporting Urban Wildlife
Important progress has been made to protect the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum in Albany. More than 1,000 native seedlings have been distributed to residents to help build habitat corridors, with new urban greening sites established at Havoc Park and Lower King Road. These projects, delivered in partnership with the City of Albany and Southern Aboriginal Corporation Rangers, are improving canopy connectivity and supporting possum survival in urban areas.
Protecting Threatened Species
In a significant conservation milestone, two translocations of Ngilkat (Gilbert’s potoroo) have been completed at Two People’s Bay Nature Reserve. Animals were carefully relocated from Bald Island and Waychinicup National Park and fitted with transmitters to monitor their progress. This work supports post-fire recovery efforts and is part of the broader Threatened Fauna Project, which also focuses on conserving the western ground parrot and noisy scrub-bird.
Makuru and the Return of Southern Right Whales
With the arrival of Makuru, Southern Right Whales have returned to sheltered bays along the South Coast to calve. Trained volunteer citizen scientists and Indigenous ranger teams have already recorded dozens of sightings, including calves, across more than 400 kilometres of coastline. These surveys provide critical data to help protect this endangered species and better understand their migration and breeding habitats.
South Coast NRM thanks its staff, partners, volunteers and communities for their continued dedication. Together, we are building healthier landscapes, stronger communities and a more resilient future for the South Coast.
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