People are the key to environmental conservation and recovery, and in the south-west of Western Australia this is clearly demonstrated by environmental non-government organisations like Bush Heritage Australia (Healthy Country Protected Forever | Bush Heritage Australia), Greening Australia (Who we are – Greening Australia – About Greening Australia – Greening Australia; small community based groups like the Friends of Fitzgerald River National Parks Friends of the Fitzgerald River National Park); and individual landholders all working together for a common goal of restoration and reconnection of habitat.
‘Honey Possum’s Bush Café’ is loosely set in the Bush Heritage Australia reserves Monjebup and Monjebup North (Monjebup | Bush Heritage Australia) between the Stirling Range and Fitzgerald River National parks in south-west Western Australia. These reserves are part of a Bush Heritage Australia project to re-connect the Fitzgerald River and Stirling Range national parks by creating wildlife corridors for a range of native animals.
The Fitz-Stirling project falls within a much larger project area called Gondwana Link (Gondwana Link Ltd. – Environmental Conservation Organisation), which aims to reconnect country across south-western Australia from the wet forests in the southwest corner to the dry woodlands and mallee bordering the Nullarbor Plain. For more information on this major conservation initiative, see Gondwana Link.
The many organisations, individuals and agencies involved with Gondwana Link, including the ones mentioned above, can be found at Who’s involved – Gondwana Link Ltd.
Land Conservation Organisations
South Coast NRM (Homepage – South Coast Natural Resource Management) – the regional organisation dedicated to the sustainable management of natural resources like native vegetation and fauna, soil and water.
Other Land management groups such as North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources (North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources) and Fitzgerald Biosphere Group (Fitzgerald Biosphere Group) who undertake a range of local and regional projects related to landcare and agricultural issues, (including pest animals and biodiversity) to ensure the long-term sustainability of the agricultural industry and the communities within the region.
Malleefowl Groups
National Malleefowl Recovery Group (National Malleefowl Recovery Group) working on the implementation of the National Recovery Plan for Malleefowl.
WA Malleefowl Recovery Group (WA Malleefowl Recovery Group) which aims to raise awareness of Malleefowl decline and to promote community involvement in Malleefowl conservation.
Yongergnow Australian Malleefowl Centre – a multipurpose facility dedicated to the Malleefowl conservation and local community development (The Centre – Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre).
Other Statutory Agencies and Key Peak Bodies
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development ) and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (Home | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions) contribute to the statutory and voluntary frameworks for people to be involved in environmental conservation and recovery through legislation, funding, capacity building, coordination, research, education and awareness, volunteering opportunities.
Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation (Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation) – represents the people of the the Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar agreement group as part of the South West Native Title Settlement. Traditional owners (individuals, families and groups) within the Fitz-Stirling project area are involved in land management, cultural activities and employment (e.g. ranger programs). Where known from referenced literature, traditional names for plants and animals have been included in Honey Possum’s Bush Café story.
Getting involved
If you would like to know more about the people behind Honey Possum’s Bush Café story, or wish to get involved yourself through on-ground activities, joining a group or making a donation/bequest to registered environmental charities, please check out the range of websites mentioned above. This is just a small sample of the community groups, non-government organisations and government agencies involved in conservation and recovery in south-west WA but it will be a good launching pad for you to find out more.
You can also help promote the Easter Bilby message of ‘hope and new life” through the Easter Bilby’s Friends books and merchandise.
Don’t forget, there is further information on the plants and animals featured Honey Possum’s Bush Café in the information sheets section of this site.