Remnant Bushland

Remnant Bushland

Land clearing, primarily for agriculture, has arguably had the greatest impact on species viability in the Wheatbelt region. Around 60% of the native vegetation of the Avon River Basin has been cleared since European settlement and an average of ~2500 hectares have been approved for clearing per year since 2010. Data Source: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Land clearing, primarily for agriculture, has arguably had the greatest impact on species viability in the Wheatbelt region. Around 60% of the native vegetation of the Avon River Basin has been cleared since European settlement (Department of Agriculture and Food) and an average of ~2500 hectares have been approved for clearing per year since 2010 (Department of Environmental Regulation). The extent and composition of our native vegetation can also be variously affected by fire, secondary salinity and climate change. As we collate data will we be increasingly able to comment on whether the area of perennial vegetation cover is increasing or decreasing across the region.

Based on the latest remnant vegetation mapping by the Department of Agriculture and Food, we can see that with the exception of the Great Western Woodlands which are virtually uncleared, every sub-region of the Wheatbelt NRM region falls well below the threshold of 30% land cover. This threshold has been identified in the literature on biodiversity conservation below which species numbers rapidly decline. Our challenge is to manage the region to improve species viability by increasing perennial landcover to exceed this threshold. About 25% of our remaining native vegetation is protected in crown reserves and under freehold covenants and non-binding agreements while revegetation efforts on freehold land continues. In these ways we can protect, enhance, enlarge and connect our remaining bushland.

Reserves

Current status (2019)
Change

These data show the 2019 area of remnant vegetation across the whole Avon River Basin that is protected under three categories; 1. Crown Reserve; 2. Conservation or carbon covenants (these are parcels of vegetation on free-hold land that are protected under a legally binding agreement between the landholder and an authorised body/covenant scheme provider such as DBCA or DPIRD); 3. Non-binding conservation covenants (these are parcels of vegetation on free-hold land that are protected through a non-binding agreements between the landholder and another party that facilitates the preservation of the land such as DBCA or the Humane Society).

 

Data sources: Landgate, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Wheatbelt NRM Inc., Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Covenants, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Land for Wildlife, Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, Emissions Reduction fund

Disclaimers: The area of remnant vegetation under covenants is likely to be underestimated

Revegetation

The number of native tree seedlings sold from local Nurseries and the area of revegetation planted annually in the Avon River Basin.

Data sources: Noongar Land Enterprise, Chatfield’s, Parnell's Nursery, Wongan Trees, Kokardine Trees, Westgrow, Katanning Environmental Nursery, Toodyay Seed Orchard, Plantrite, Greening Australia, Wheatbelt NRM Inc., State NRM, Green Army, Forest Products Commission, Oil Mallee Association, Trillion Trees, DBCA (Merredin), Bowman Brush, Carbon Positive Australia, GP Forestry, Wide Open Ag, Activate, PlanetArc (National Tree Day)

 

Disclaimers: Every effort has been made to collate a comprehensive list of organisations who contribute to revegetation in the region, however; these data are likely to be an underestimate of the actual revegetation efforts during any given year. The area of revegetation is calculated from real values supplied by various organisations but does not included private (unsupported) landholder revegetation efforts nor does it give an indication of revegetation success.

CONTRIBUTE DATA

Mining

Current status (2021)

Change

The total number of mines (at all stages of development) in the Avon River Basin.

Data source: Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety

Disclaimers: The data gives no indication of the area of remnant vegetation cleared or rehabilitated.

Clearing

These data show the area over which clearing permits were granted (for various purposes) by the DWER for 2021 in the Avon River Basin

Disclaimers: Data current as of October 2021 and includes only permits granted but does not indicate if the clearing has actually occurred.

Data sources: Department of Water Environmental Regulation

 

Fire

The area of remnant vegetation burnt per season across the Avon River Basin.

Data sources: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Climate Change

Current status (2021)

The average climate anomaly (i.e. how far the annual mean deviates from the long-term mean of 1961-1990) across the Avon River Basin calculated from sites in the Bureau of Metrology’s climate change site network.

Data source: Bureau of Meteorology

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