A World for Woodlands

Supporting the following Objectives

Reducing threats to Banksia Woodland Threatened Ecological Communities through land stewardship

Long Term Goal

By 2050 the condition of the nine EPBC listed threatened ecological communities in the Peel-Harvey Region is maintained or improved

Regional Land Partnerships (Australian Government) Outcomes

Primary Outcome:
By 2023, the implementation of priority actions is leading to an improvement in the condition of EPBC Act listed Threatened Ecological Communities

Primary Asset: Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain
Secondary Asset: Clay Pans of the Swan Coastal Plain

Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain are located within one of the two global biodiversity hotspots found in Australia.

Listed as a Threatened Ecological Community, the remaining 20,000 ha of Banksia Woodlands are spread over 5,000 sites in the Peel‑Harvey Catchment and provide critical corridors, habitat and food for fauna.

Clearing of Banksia Woodland has led to fragmentation and, coupled with invasive weeds, feral animals and the spread of disease, ecological processes have been diminished.

Our 5 year project will work with community and land managers to develop guiding actions to help meet Conservation Advice objectives. Actions aimed at maintaining or improving extent and condition of Banksia Woodlands and associated TEC’s will include:

Increasing skills & knowledge of land managers through awareness-raising and training events
Mapping the extent and condition of Banksia Woodland remnants
Revegetation and access control to improve connectivity
Reducing threats such as feral animals and disease
Monitoring to demonstrate improved extent and condition

For more detail on the project, please view the project summary here

Banksia Woodlands…important feeding grounds

The long, overlapping flowering seasons of the Banksia tree species, with help from an array of understorey plants, ensures the Woodlands support numerous nectar-feeding birds such as the New Holland Honey-eater. After flowering, seeds of Banksia and other species provide valuable food sources for the endangered Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos and Forest Red-tailed Cockatoos.

Carnaby's Black Cockatoo

Calyptorhynchus latirostris
Photo: Keith Lightbody

New Holland Honeyeater

Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
Photo: Marg Owen

Honey Possum

Tarsipes rostratus
Photo: Bush Heritage Australia Annette Ruzicka

Key Threats

Predation by feral cats and foxes
Habitat fragmentation and loss
Disturbance
Inappropriate fire regimes
Disease
Loss of cultural knowledge and values

Climate Change
Decline in pollinating and seed dispersing fauna
Loss of keystone Banksia species and fragmenting of nectar/pollen nutritional networks
Lack of data by which project outcomes can be measured

Management Actions

Biophysical

Initiatives to revegetate buffers and linkages
Regeneration, revegetation and restoration
Feral Animal Control
Fencing of natural areas
Disease management
Weed control

Non Biophysical

Establish partnerships and engage Aboriginal (Noongar) representatives/groups to plan, deliver and preview projects
Sites where cultural values are identified and protected
Land managers implementing improved fire and/or grazing regimes
Land managers fencing remnant populations
Voluntary management agreements for protection
Increased awareness through promotional activities
Land managers adopting Land for Wildlife assessments and actions
Field days and workshops
Education programs for schools

Working Together

The PHCC is delivering the A World for Woodlands – Banksia project in collaboration with the following:

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA)
Birdlife Australia (WA)
Local Governments
Local Noongar Community
Tertiary institutions (including Murdoch University)
Expert consultants
Farmers and land managers

Project outcomes

Changes in Asset (by 2023)

920 ha of Banksia Woodlands and associated TEC’s will be protected, managed and/or restored through management of threats, restoration and reduced access as per recommendations of the Conservation Advice and interim Recovery Plan

At least 4 sites of Clay Pans of the Swan Coastal Plain TEC within the Peel-Harvey Catchment associated with Banksia Woodlands project sites have undertaken management actions to maintain or improve condition

Practice and Attitude Change (by 2023)

Over 180 land managers and community have an improved understanding of principles and practices for restoration and conservation of Banksia Woodlands and associated TEC’s as a result of 28 awareness and skill building events

20 landholders will be involved in the management to protect or restore Banksia Woodlands

Our Noongar community is activity participating in the delivery of the management of Banksia Woodlands on the Swan Coastal Plain through 12 on-ground, consultation and training events

Monitoring and Evaluation

An effective monitoring and evaluation framework is being used to ensure the Project delivers on its outcomes.

Our PHCC project logic provided the framework for the design, delivery, review and evaluation of this project. An adaptive management approach is being used to monitor, evaluate, review and improve the methods of delivering project services to meet the Banksia Woodlands Conservation Advice.

Short and medium term outcomes have been developed and will contribute to the long term outcomes leading to an improvement in the condition of EPBC Act listed Threatened Ecological Communities of the Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain (Primary Investment Priority) and the Clay Pans of the Swan Coastal Plain (Secondary Investment Priority)

Management Actions (outputs) are detailed on the graph below, with progress in delivery up to June 30, 2021 showing that we are on target to meet our targets, as defined in our Agreement with the Australian Government.

K4	IDENTIFY AND CAPITALISE ON MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
The Peel-Harvey has competitive advantages that should enable market opportunities to be capitalized on, including its close proximity to an international airport, emerging support facilities, comparatively affordable land as metropolitan areas become more urbanized, and its natural capital including a very productive area of the Wheatbelt. Capitalising on these opportunities will assist in employment and the social issues being experienced as a result of high unemployment. The Peel-Harvey is well placed to capitalize on market opportunities and land managers need support to identify and match production to markets, promoting the Region’s clean, green production by implementing sustainable practices that protect and restore the Region’s natural capital.
K4.1	Undertake Analysis of competitive markets for sustainable production
K4.1.1	Support grower groups and similar to identify competitive advantages and provide support to match land managers to markets
K4.1.2	Prepare and communicate an analysis of strengths, assets and potential new markets
K4.1.3	Identify and facilitate network opportunities to improve local knowledge and opportunities
K4.1.4	Identify constraints and areas for development and advocate to remove identified barriers
K4.2	Provide community access to, and awareness of new technologies and information
K4.2.1	Share new technologies and information, including local successes and peer to peer learning
K4.2.2	Support next generation farming, including education and career development

K3	LAND MANAGERS TO USE BEST KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY
Land managers use a wealth of knowledge and experience to inform the way they manage their paddock, patch or park. They may need support to access new information that has become available through research and field trials. Strategies to achieve this goal aim at information sharing between landholders, through field days, extension support, and field-based research trials.
K3.1	Relevant information/knowledge is provided to land managers
K3.1.1	Develop targeted land management extension programs responding to community needs
K3.1.2	Support and assist land managers to access relevant and contemporary information
K3.1.3	Develop, promote and support implementation of best practice management for NRM
K3.2	Use science to inform land manager programs
K3.2.1	Implement targeted extension programs to support NRM for productive environments
K3.2.2	Support relevant research trials and promote findings to land managers
K3.2.3	Demonstrate economics benefits of productivity improvements, to influence greater uptake

K2	INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
NRM practices must continue to evolve and adapt to the best available information. To enable this adaptive management and continuous improvement to occur, information must be collected for monitoring and evaluation purposes, science should be used to address knowledge gaps and innovation must be encouraged. The strategies to address this goal cover each of these aspects as well as incorporating the knowledge of Aboriginal people to improve the effectiveness of NRM activities.
K2.1	Maintain effective information collection, storage and analysis processes
K2.1.1	Establish and maintain an effective information collection and storage process
K2.2	Use scientific methods to develop, inform and improve natural resource management programs
K2.2.1	Assist in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of NRM activities
K2.2.2	Help educate and support land holders to improve decision making
K2.3	Incorporate Aboriginal knowledge to improve natural resource management
K2.3.1	Collaboratively document and use Aboriginal knowledge/practice in NRM programs
K2.4	Encourage Innovation in natural resource management programs
K2.4.1	Identify, assess and facilitate sharing of new techniques, particularly for agriculture and restoration
K2.4.2	Communicate and support innovation in NRM and agricultural programs and Practices

K1	INFLUENCE DECISION MAKING FOR BETTER NRM
Decision makers in government and the private sector need access to the best available research findings and information to ensure that land is managed wisely. New development and land uses should not create new NRM challenges for the future but provide for new opportunities for good stewards of the environment. A number of landmark strategies and activities will achieve this goal including the preparation of regular State of the Region reports, implementation of the Science Strategy for the Estuary (and pending Strategy for the Catchment) and establishing the first stages of a Peel Waterways Institute.
K1.1	Science is undertaken to address current and emerging environmental, economic and production issues
K1.1.1	Establish and implement a Science Program for the Peel-Harvey
K1.1.2	Prepare and implement contemporary Science Strategy’s for the Peel-Harvey
K1.1.3	Collaborate with stakeholders to target and enable priority research
K1.2	Communicate State of the Catchment and relevant science to decision makers/community
K1.2.1	Prepare and communicate a State of the Catchment Report Card/s (every 2 years)
K1.2.2	Communicate science and knowledge relevant to health of the catchment
K1.3	Establish a Peel Waterways Institute / Waterways Centre of Excellence
K1.3.1	Establish first stages of a Peel Waterways Institute to support collaborative research
K1.3.2	Advocate for a National Centre for Waterways Excellence in the Peel-Harvey

K1	INFLUENCE DECISION MAKING FOR BETTER NRM
Decision makers in government and the private sector need access to the best available research findings and information to ensure that land is managed wisely. New development and land uses should not create new NRM challenges for the future but provide for new opportunities for good stewards of the environment. A number of landmark strategies and activities will achieve this goal including the preparation of regular State of the Region reports, implementation of the Science Strategy for the Estuary (and pending Strategy for the Catchment) and establishing the first stages of a Peel Waterways Institute.
K1.1	Science is undertaken to address current and emerging environmental, economic and production issues
K1.1.1	Establish and implement a Science Program for the Peel-Harvey
K1.1.2	Prepare and implement contemporary Science Strategy’s for the Peel-Harvey
K1.1.3	Collaborate with stakeholders to target and enable priority research
K1.2	Communicate State of the Catchment and relevant science to decision makers/community
K1.2.1	Prepare and communicate a State of the Catchment Report Card/s (every 2 years)
K1.2.2	Communicate science and knowledge relevant to health of the catchment
K1.3	Establish a Peel Waterways Institute / Waterways Centre of Excellence
K1.3.1	Establish first stages of a Peel Waterways Institute to support collaborative research
K1.3.2	Advocate for a National Centre for Waterways Excellence in the Peel-Harvey
K2	INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
NRM practices must continue to evolve and adapt to the best available information. To enable this adaptive management and continuous improvement to occur, information must be collected for monitoring and evaluation purposes, science should be used to address knowledge gaps and innovation must be encouraged. The strategies to address this goal cover each of these aspects as well as incorporating the knowledge of Aboriginal people to improve the effectiveness of NRM activities.
K2.1	Maintain effective information collection, storage and analysis processes
K2.1.1	Establish and maintain an effective information collection and storage process
K2.2	Use scientific methods to develop, inform and improve natural resource management programs
K2.2.1	Assist in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of NRM activities
K2.2.2	Help educate and support land holders to improve decision making
K2.3	Incorporate Aboriginal knowledge to improve natural resource management
K2.3.1	Collaboratively document and use Aboriginal knowledge/practice in NRM programs
K2.4	Encourage Innovation in natural resource management programs
K2.4.1	Identify, assess and facilitate sharing of new techniques, particularly for agriculture and restoration
K2.4.2	Communicate and support innovation in NRM and agricultural programs and Practices
K3	LAND MANAGERS TO USE BEST KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY
Land managers use a wealth of knowledge and experience to inform the way they manage their paddock, patch or park. They may need support to access new information that has become available through research and field trials. Strategies to achieve this goal aim at information sharing between landholders, through field days, extension support, and field-based research trials.
K3.1	Relevant information/knowledge is provided to land managers
K3.1.1	Develop targeted land management extension programs responding to community needs
K3.1.2	Support and assist land managers to access relevant and contemporary information
K3.1.3	Develop, promote and support implementation of best practice management for NRM
K3.2	Use science to inform land manager programs
K3.2.1	Implement targeted extension programs to support NRM for productive environments
K3.2.2	Support relevant research trials and promote findings to land managers
K3.2.3	Demonstrate economics benefits of productivity improvements, to influence greater uptake
K4	IDENTIFY AND CAPITALISE ON MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
The Peel-Harvey has competitive advantages that should enable market opportunities to be capitalized on, including its close proximity to an international airport, emerging support facilities, comparatively affordable land as metropolitan areas become more urbanized, and its natural capital including a very productive area of the Wheatbelt. Capitalising on these opportunities will assist in employment and the social issues being experienced as a result of high unemployment. The Peel-Harvey is well placed to capitalize on market opportunities and land managers need support to identify and match production to markets, promoting the Region’s clean, green production by implementing sustainable practices that protect and restore the Region’s natural capital.
K4.1	Undertake Analysis of competitive markets for sustainable production
K4.1.1	Support grower groups and similar to identify competitive advantages and provide support to match land managers to markets
K4.1.2	Prepare and communicate an analysis of strengths, assets and potential new markets
K4.1.3	Identify and facilitate network opportunities to improve local knowledge and opportunities
K4.1.4	Identify constraints and areas for development and advocate to remove identified barriers
K4.2	Provide community access to, and awareness of new technologies and information
K4.2.1	Share new technologies and information, including local successes and peer to peer learning
K4.2.2	Support next generation farming, including education and career development