Fieldwork in Action: October Surveys Kickstart Conservation for the Wheatbelt’s Critically Endangered Eucalypt Woodlands & Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo
October saw the Healthy Environments team spending most of their days in the field conducting baseline flora and habitat condition assessment surveys for WNRM’s new federally funded critically endangered Eucalypt Woodlands and endangered Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo conservation projects.
Over the four-week period, they visited 11 properties across the region and worked hard to complete 18 surveys before spring annuals and flowers dried up and disappeared for another year.
The surveys involved the establishment of plots within remnant eucalypt woodland and forage habitat for Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo, to create a standardised baseline data set for each site.
To capture the baseline data the following methodology was undertaken within a defined plot:
- Specimen collection of all plant species for identification
- Measurement of tree diameter and height
- Percentage of cover for each plant species
- Abundance measure of weeds and native plant species
- Presence of native and non-native animals
Each plot was then awarded a condition score allowing for long-term comparisons.
At the end of the project, these plots will be re-assessed (following the same standardised methodology) to measure change that can be attributed to the introduction of management actions (such as feral animal control, revegetation, habitat augmentation and cool ecological burning of understorey).
We have only just begun and are still looking for more landholders keen to work with us to conserve the critically endangered Eucalypt Woodlands of the WA Wheatbelt and Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo.
If you have a property in the Avon River Basin with a large area of remnant vegetation that contains tall eucalypt trees and/or habitat that Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos visit to feed, roost or nest we would love to hear from you.
For more information please get in touch with Healthy Environments Project Delivery Officer Kate Nicol (KNicol@wheatbeltnrm.org.au) or to express your interest, complete the following survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3JG7D27
Published eNews #396, November 2024