A vibrant Wheatbelt community that creates
healthy environments and livelihoods.
Proactive planning to tackle drought impact - Have your say
Earlier this year Wheatbelt NRM was involved in a grass roots community engagement campaign aimed at ensuring community voices would be heard as the Wheatbelt Development Commission undertook a pilot program to develop a Regional Drought Resilience Plan for the southern Wheatbelt.
After listening to the scientists, community, local government and businesses the draft plan has emerged and is now available for public comment. The plan found regional resilience to drought will require reliable water infrastructure, innovative agricultural systems, diversifying the economy and community connectedness.
We encourage our community to comment on the plan's findings.
Our Noongar Boodja Rangers centre stage at State NRM Conference
Last week our Noongar Boodja Rangers attended the State NRM Conference in Mandurah to present a video and Q&A session around our native seed collecting enterprise. The audience were interested to learn 179 different locations have been tagged throughout the Wheatbelt so far. Our rangers record using ID references and note other important information too, such as the number of plants in that specific location, what stage the seed development is at and in what season, so we may improve our collections.
The ancient soils of Western Australia are low in soil organic carbon, and modern agricultural practices have altered the natural cycling of nutrients, depleting the organic soil carbon. Soil scientists unanimously agree there are agronomic and environmental benefits associated with rebuilding soil organic carbon in agricultural soils, but what is Soil Organic Carbon? Is it possible to build soil carbon in WA agricultural systems and, what does it mean for the farm business and the environment?
Black-cockatoos are being seen around the Wheatbelt and their behaviours can help to indicate whether they’re breeding and if so, what stage of the breeding cycle they’re in. Our black-cockatoo project requires us to work within close proximity to a known nesting area and we’ve been surveying areas to find nests. We need community help to complete the surveys.
Wheatbelt NRM helping Farmers Assess their Carbon Farming Future
We have been working with a number of Wheatbelt farming families to assess the potential for carbon sequestration on their properties through the State Government’s $15M Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program.
The Program provides farmers with support to work with expert consultants to develop Land Management Strategies and Round 2 is now open for applications.
We are pleased to confirm that our AGM for the 2021/22 year will be held Thursday 20 October at the Bridgeley Centre in Northam with registrations commencing at 9.30am for a 10am start. The AGM is an opportunity for Members and other interested community members to hear about our achievements throughout the year and have conversations with staff and Board members about how we can grow opportunities to build a vibrant Wheatbelt community - creating healthy environments and livelihoods. Register your interest by emailing here and we will send you an invite.
SAVE THE DATE! NRM Regions Australia, along with local partner South West Catchments Council, are pleased to announce Australia’s 8th National NRM Knowledge Conference 2022. Natural Resource Management (NRM) is the integrated management of the natural resources that make up Australia’s landscapes – our land, water, soil, plants and animals.
