and develop a sustainable future for tomorrow
community • environment • farming
Follow us on Facebook:
Follow us on Twitter:
Follow us on Instagram:
🌳 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!
🌟Thank you🌟 to everyone who has played a part in our epic 2021! We'll kick off 2022 by collaborating with community organisations in our region to address a huge challenge - recovering from the recent Boranup forest bushfires.
If you'd like to give an extra special Christmas pressie this year, please consider donating at the link in our bio. Every cent will go towards on-ground recovery action for our beloved forest flora and fauna.
Our December newsletters are out now – head to the link in our bio to catch up on the latest in environmental and agricultural news from the South West.
The SWCC offices will be closed from 4pm today until 4 January as our team takes a well deserved break.
🌟JUST LAUNCHED🌟
We've been working closely with the Greater Bunbury community and vet behaviourists to produce a comprehensive guide to keeping your pets happy and safe at home! Check it out at the link in bio.
Being a #ResponsiblePetPawrent means keeping your cats indoors, in an enclosed 'catio' or on a harness and lead. You'll find guidance on how to transition your outdoor cat to this safer, more relaxed lifestyle, along with tips on how to build your own cat enclosure! You can also hear from local cat owners who have already made the transition.
You'll also find tips on how to keep our critically endangered western ringtail possums safe from dogs in the yard.
CSR & Communications Manager, Nicki Ledger, and Threatened Species Program Manager, Brian Chambers, making friends at @birdlifewa Black Cockatoo Symposium 🪶
🐄 SWCC Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator, Peter Clifton, facilitating a fascinating discussion on carbon for the Western Dairy Annual Spring Forum. Important takeaway messages include:
- WA is only state with rising emissions (predominantly from energy sector)
- Important for farmers to quantify their emissions to understand climate impact
- Soil carbon potential is an interplay between soil type, climate and land management.
- Clay content is a limiting factor to building soil carbon. It’s harder to build (and retain) carbon in sandy soils.
- ~85% of carbon added to soil is consumed by microorganisms and respired as carbon dioxide.
- Maintaining soil organic carbon requires continued inputs of, for example, manure.
- Soil organic carbon potential higher in areas with medium-high rainfall and lower temperature.
- Need to protect topsoil (full of carbon) and build carbon into soil at depth.
🐝🦋🪲 SWCC is working with avocado and canola farmers to research the use of on-farm revegetation to attract pollinators and boost productivity.
We're trialing inter-row cropping with crimson clover and oats, and measuring the increase in pollinator levels. Early results indicate that these species are very attractive to insects (and they certainly look beautiful too!).
More info at link in bio!
🌿 The Australian Government will shortly begin consultation on new legislation aimed at creating a national biodiversity stewardship market to facilitate private sector investment in farmers who improve the environmental condition of their land.
The new legislation will develop a market and associated Biodiversity Trading Platform to provide the private sector with an easy, credible and cost-effective method to demonstrate corporate social responsibility by investing in on-farm biodiversity.
Farmers will be rewarded with a drought-proof income for boosting biodiversity on less productive areas of farmland, through activities such as revegetation, planting, weed and pest control, and fencing.
Read more at link in bio!
Head down to Bunbury Markets today to chat to our Project Manager, Jaya, about how to keep your pet happy and healthy at home. She has simple and effective enclosure ideas on display to suit every home. Our native wildlife will thank you for doing the right thing 🙏🐶🐱
Thanks all for a fabulous AGM yesterday, which featured a guest speech by Luke Yates of SWALSC on the South West Native Title Settlement and signing of our new Collaboration MoU! It’s been a big year and we’re looking forward to doing even more to build a healthier, more productive environment in 2022 🤩
⭐️We're looking for a Strategy Manager! ⭐️
If you're a gun at identifying market drivers, trends and gaps and want to help us deliver sustainable solutions to environmental challenges, we want to hear from you!
This brand new role will be responsible for developing business cases for investment decisions, with the aim of building a healthier, more productive South West environment and community.
Great people skills are a must, as is financial and risk management competence. You'll undertake proactive engagement of a range of senior individuals within potential partner organisations, for exploratory discussions through to contractual negotiations.
The role requires concise communication of complex concepts, financials and project plans, as well as the staying power to translate an idea into real-world outcome.
If you think you fit the bill, click the link in bio!
🤩 There's an exciting road ahead for SWCC, with the launch of our new Organisational Strategy 2021-25 featuring innovative diversification strategies and a commitment to scaling up environmental solutions across the region.
The recent recruitment of two new Board Directors, with significant expertise in governance and financial management, will further strengthen the organisation.
To assist with the delivery of the Strategy, a new Sustainability and Environment Lead and Strategy Manager will be recruited to the executive team.
Link in bio for more information.
♻️Happy National Recycling Week! ♻️
Hopefully by now, we're all pretty great at recycling our cans, plastic bottles/containers, paper, newspaper and glass in the yellow bins. We know they need to be clean and loose so they can be recycled and turned into new products. Job done, right?!
Well....not quite! There's still heaps you can do, and the best place to start is REDUCING your waste in the first place. Buy less and waste less - invest in reusables, avoid packaging, say no to that bottled water and steer clear of fast fashion. A good bin is an empty bin!
The next step is to recycle items that can't be processed through your yellow lid bin. Soft plastics can go to REDcycle drop-off points at Coles and Woolworths. Other items like batteries and e-waste can be taken to specialised drop-off points - your local government will be able to advise what's available in your area.
Turning your organic waste into compost is easy if you have a lime-green lid FOGO or GO bin. Even if you don't, backyard composting or wormfarming is easy and rewarding (and you get to keep the compost for your garden!)
We all have a part to play in looking after our environment. Easy, everyday choices can make all the difference!
For more info, check out wastesorted.wa.gov.au.
👩⚖️ Our CEO, Sally Wilkinson, recently presented at the National Environmental Law Association’s State Conference about the evolving carbon farming regulatory landscape. Sally outlined how SWCC worked with the Australian Government on its Carbon + Biodiversity and Enhanced Remnant Vegetation pilots, and how landholders can get involved in carbon farming to diversify income.
😲🤔 Our Communications Manager, Nicki, found this beauty in her garage in Cowaramup. Can you guess the species?
If you haven’t already, watch David Attenborough’s keynote speech at COP26 (link in bio) – important and powerful words to inspire climate action.
#COP26 #COP26Glasgow #ClimateTalks #ClimateAction #Attenborough
The Threatened Species Commissioner has today announced Australia's 100 priority threatened species. Here in the South West, that includes:
✅ Australasian Bittern
✅ Carnaby's Cockatoo
✅ Malleefowl
✅ Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
✅ Chuditch
✅ Numbat
✅ Quokka
✅ Western ringtail possum
Two new additions in our region are the Australian Sea Lion and the Margaret River Burrowing Crayfish 🦐
Project Manager Jaya Vaughan showing a group of keen cat owners some enclosure options to keep their kitties (and our native wildlife) safe and healthy!
🤩 Who needs a humpday pick-me-up?! 🤩
Here's a very cute video of western ringtail possum, Jodie, feasting on some prickly moses flowers (Acacia pulchella)! 🐒
Jodie is part of the cohort we're studying for our possum release program with @fawna.inc, @universitywa and DBCA.
Music: www.bensound.com
