Expanding Remnant Bush in the Heavily Cleared Wheatbelt Bioregion

Bush Blocks Guardians Inc. (BBG) was formed to facilitate purchasing land for conservation in the Wheatbelt, which has undergone extensive clearing reducing most bush to small, isolated remnants. In 2021 BBG purchased 666ha to be preserved and rehabilitated in the Eastern Wheatbelt. The block was selected as two of its boundaries border one of WA’s most important nature reserves and it supports a large diversity of habitats, flora and vegetation. 200ha had been farmed which we are carefully revegetating using locally collected seed from about 50 species. We have professional ecologist members conducting systematic fauna and flora surveys to gain an understanding of baseline diversity. This will help determine effectiveness of efforts to rehabilitate cleared areas and control non-native species such as cats, foxes and rabbits. We have also identified many First Nations heritage sites and quite unique granite rock structures.
This talk will briefly give an overview of how the group came together and some of our achievements, and ecologist Sam Lostrom will detail our extensive fauna surveying program and plans for the future.

The main presentation will be followed by a short focus talk, most likely on brush-tailed phascogales.

We will also look at any specimens that have been brought along.

After this you are welcome to join us for tea/coffee and conversation.
All are welcome to attend, with a donation of $3 for Club members or $5 for non-members giving you a chance to win the door prize (EFTPOS available).

Doors open at 7.10pm and the meeting begins at 7.30pm at the Hew Roberts Lecture Theatre, University of Western Australia.

Parking is free and available in car parks near the Gordon St or Clifton St entrances to the campus.

Image: Borya on granite outcrop