and develop a sustainable future for tomorrow
community • environment • farming
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⭐️ We're Hiring! ⭐️
SWCC is recruiting a Program Manager to lead our sustainable agriculture and Ramsar wetlands programs.
If you have experience in working on NRM-based projects related to sustainable agricultural practices, as well as advanced project and people management skills, we'd love to hear from you.
More info at the link in bio!
SWCC and NRM Regions Australia are co-hosting the 8th National NRM Knowledge Conference on Monday 31 October to Wednesday 2 November 2022. 🌳
The Conference is an opportunity for the sector and its stakeholders to showcase their innovative work, share knowledge, develop peer networks and build cross-sectoral links. The 2022 theme is 'Resilience Through Transformation', recognising recent progress towards building a more resilient environment and sector, and looking to the future at how to drive further momentum.
This year’s conference will be held in the stunning Margaret River region of Western Australia.
You are invited to submit an abstract to present, exhibit a poster/video, host a workshop/side meeting or participate in a discussion panel here: bit.ly/3Kpyabl. Be quick, the submission deadline is 31 May 2022!
More information about registration, themes, speakers and the region are available from the conference website here: bit.ly/374qxZF.
If your organisation is interested in hosting a site visit on 31 October or sponsoring the conference, please contact [email protected]
Drop by our stall at the @safebunbury Kitty Adoption Day at @scoutaboutgirl this Sunday from 9am to 1pm, to learn how to keep your pet cats safe and happy! 🐈
By keeping cats at home on your property, you'll also help to protect critically endangered species like the western ringtail possum.
Who knows, you may even leave with a new furry friend like Winston, pictured here with his favourite human Emma 😻
The 2022 Ringtail Tally kicks off this Saturday 9 April and runs through to Sunday 8 May! 🤩
Help conserve our critically endangered western ringtail possums by signing up with your local group (@natureconservation, @geographecatchmentcouncil, @leschenaultcatchmentcouncil, @oysterharbourcatchment or @wirambilandcare) to track possums in your area. 🕵️
This year, you can submit your results through the Survey123 website and app. You can even see real time results on our website. More info from link in bio.
Interested in helping to conserve our critically endangered western ringtail possum? We’re seeking volunteer radio trackers to help with conservation research in Gracetown. Flexible shifts are available from April to November 2022. Contact [email protected]@au for more info.
We attended a fantastic workshop last week, investigating three of the leading carbon emission calculators available for farming enterprises. Thanks to @cbh_group, @dpirdwa and Wide Open Agriculture for hosting. 🙏
It’s vital to measure your emissions to assess your baseline and identify opportunities to improve. It can also help you make important decisions about whether to keep or sell your carbon credits. 👨🌾
The calculators we have available may not be perfect but they’re the best way to develop an initial understanding of your impact. If you’d be interested in having a carbon footprint developed for your farm, contact us today.
Today we were down at Dunsborough boat harbour being interviewed by @abcnews_au and couldn’t resist sharing our stunning view. We ❤️ the South West!
⭐️ We're hiring! ⭐️
Our team has grown and we need extra admin support. We're looking for a part time Administration Officer with demonstrated experience and some knowledge of IT systems.
If you'd like to join the peak natural resource management organisation in the South West and contribute towards building a more sustainable future, apply today!
SWCC is very excited to announce a collaboration with ‘Aunty Viv’ Vivienne Hansen to produce a guide on Noongar plant use, aimed at boosting pollination rates and building farm resilience. 🤩
The guide titled 'Enhancing Pollination Services Through Targeted Revegetation - Traditional Ecological Knowledge About Plants Identified as Suitable for Pollinators' will be available free upon completion. 🐝
Vivienne ‘Binyaarn’ Hansen is a Balladong Wadjuk Yorga woman from the Bibbulmun Nation who has published two locally renowned books – ‘Noongar Bush Medicine’ and ‘Noongar Bush Tucker’. She also runs a bush medicine business and delivers workshops to share kaartdijin (knowledge) of Noongar boodja (country). ⚫️🟡🔴
More info at link in bio.
Thank you to @dpirdwa and @carbon.farming for speaking at yesterday’s ‘Carbon Farming - How to Get Started’ event here at @swccnrm! Great to see so many farmers in the room interested in understanding opportunities! 🌳
Have you noticed holes in your rose leaves or other soft leafed plants? Ever wondered who the culprit was? 🤔
It’s the amazing handiwork of the native female leaf cutter bees! 🐝
They use the leaf pieces in nests they build for their young, either in the ground, in holes in timber or masonry, under bark or in hollow stems. Nests have even been found in hollow dry gum nuts! 🌿
The cut leaves are used to line holes or tubes. Eggs are laid in each cell and provided with a mixture of nectar and pollen before being sealed with a leaf piece and resin. The eggs eat the nest larder and when fully grown, they spin cocoons to develop into pupae before finally emerging as adult bees. Immature bees may hibernate through winter and finish developing next spring. ⭐️
So please don’t get upset with your imperfect leaves – they are performing a vital function for some of our amazing native bees! 😍
Many thanks to Brian Trainer for the amazing bee shots. You can check out more of his work at @cape_nat_macro.
#pollinator #bee #nativebees #leafcutter #insect #conservation #environment #nature
New program from @dpirdwa supporting farmers to get the advice they need to decide whether carbon farming is right for them! SWCC is hosting a workshop with DPIRD on 3 March to tell you all about it. Register at link in bio! 👍🏼
📢 Calling farmers and landholders! 📢
Join SWCC and DPIRD on 3 March for an information session on how to get started with carbon farming. 🌳
DPIRD will outline how to get involved with Round 2 of their Carbon Farming & Land Restoration Program, which rewards landholders for environmental and social benefits of carbon projects. 🌏
Register at the link in bio. 📋
#carbon #carbonfarming #carbonneutral #climateaction #climatechange #farming #sustainablefarming #regenerativeagriculture #biodiversity #conservation #salinity
🤩 Introducing our new Strategy Manager, Peter Bates, who has just joined the team!
Peter comes to us with over 20 years of professional experience in the biotech, energy and resources sectors, developing and implementing strategy to position organisations for future success. Peter's solution-seeking, decisive, resourceful and influential problem solving will guide SWCC in business diversification, growth and continued innovation.
Peter is committed to positioning SWCC as a partner of choice in the delivery of successful environmental outcomes and we're really excited to have him on the team. We hope you'll join us in giving him a warm welcome!
Our bushfire affected farmers need help to protect native bushland and threatened wildlife! 🔥
Alongside the devastating impact on livestock, crops and pastures, the fires also destroyed fencing and vital areas of native revegetation. Protected areas of remnant bush are now under threat from livestock unless we act quickly 🌳
Click the link in bio to hear from Angus Armstrong of Rosebrook Farm, a passionate advocate for sustainable farming, and find out how you can help.
#bushfire #bushfiresaustralia #environment #conservation #nature #EcosystemRestoration #regenerativeagriculture #sustainablefarming #biodiversity #wildlife #threatenedspecies
Today we’re in Perth talking carbon farming with Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLC 🌳
First announcement: the second round of the Carbon Farming & Land Restoration Program will open for applications in March. From 25 Feb, farmers can apply for grants of up to $10k to assist with scoping and developing their project ✅
We’ll be co-hosting an information workshop on the Carbon Farming & Restoration Program in early March - details to be announced shortly, watch this space! 👀
🐝 Have you seen this handsome fella before?
Our Sustainable Agriculture Project Manager, Wendy Wilkins, spotted this insect while conducting a survey for SWCC's pollinator research project this morning.
After consulting MyPestID, we discovered that it's a native hairy flower wasp! They have an ingenious (and gruesome) life cycle, digging into soil or rotting wood to paralyse scarab beetle larvae before depositing their eggs. Upon hatching, the wasp larva feeds on the scarab larva, consuming vital organs last so the grub only dies when the wasp larva is fully developed. Nature can be cruel but it sure is clever!
To find our more about our work on pollination and farm resilience, check out our website 🌱
#pollinator #pollination #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #insects #wasp #nature #evolution #landcare #environment #conservation #insectsarecool #beetle
Yesterday we attended the launch of the Timber Hub’s new Decision Tree - a tool for assessing the feasibility of planting trees on your farm for timber. It includes economic models comparing plantation with other agricultural land uses so you can be sure you’re making the right long term financial decision. Give us a call to find out more!
🌳 We've joined together with Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, @undalupassoc, Transition Margaret River, @natureconservation.mr, @margaret_river_wine and @margaretrivercci to commit to a 6 point recovery plan for the Boranup Forest and Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, following last month's devastating fires.
It is crucial that we work quickly to ensure recovery of the park, which is known to be home to listed threatened species including:
⭐️ Baudin's, Carnaby's and forest red-tailed black cockatoos
⭐️ White bellied frogs
⭐️ Quokkas
⭐️ Quenda
⭐️ Western ringtail possum
⭐️ Brush tailed phascogale
⭐️ Rakali (water rat)
In particular, SWCC would like to see appropriate resources allocated for:
✅ Feral predator control to allow native wildlife species to recover
✅ Weed control to ensure native flora can regenerate naturally
✅ Provision of shelter pods and nesting boxes to replace habitat destroyed in the fires
✅ Restoration of the natural hydrology of the Nindup Plain
✅ Joint management of the park with local Wadandi custodians.
Find out more about the plan and how you can support our work at the link in bio.
⭐️ We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our new Sustainability and Environment Lead, Linda Metz, who started with us today! ⭐️
Linda's been involved in natural resource management for 25 years in the Perth region and the South West. Linda will be heading up key programs such as threatened species, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity.
We're stoked to have Linda on the team and hope you'll join us in welcoming her. She's looking forward to meeting you all and working together on exciting upcoming projects!
