Breeding season is in full swing for Carnaby’s in the Wheatbelt! This month, the Wheatbelt NRM team have been monitoring the artificial nesting hollows that were established during the previous black-cockatoo project, and are seeking feedback from anyone in the region who has spotted Carnaby’s black-cockatoos on their property via our Black-Cockatoo Survey.

The WNRM Noongar Boodjar Ranger team is a family like no other, with generations of fathers, sons, cousins, and siblings working side by side. Their unique family bonds create a supportive, culturally rich environment that drives their success—both on country and in the workplace.

Wheatbelt NRM members Rob Boase and Wayne Clarke were inducted into the 2024 WA Landcarers Hall of Fame for their lifelong contributions to environmental conservation.

Noongar Boodjar Rangers rogueing for triticale and barley in AGT wheat crop.

The Soil CRC has shared preliminary insights from our partnership on a project to identify soil microbial indicators of soil health in the Wheatbelt. Early analysis of 2022 soil samples show a promising link between nematode populations and land management. Final results will be presented at our Talkin’ Soil Health symposium in York on 13th March 2025, where we hope to determine if farmers can use nematodes as a measure of soil health.

The Healthy Environments team hit the ground running in October with the commencement of baseline field work for Wheatbelt NRM’s two new projects centred around the conservation of the Eucalypt Woodlands of the WA Wheatbelt (a threatened ecological community) and the endangered Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo. Read on to learn what was involved and how you may be able to help.

The Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (PSHB) is a small yet highly invasive beetle native to Southeast Asia, posing a significant threat to a wide range of plant species.

The pilot ‘Wheatbelt land-use paradigms – navigating new industries in the low carbon and natural capital era’ is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture program under the Natural Heritage Trust.

Our team has undergone major changes in the last 3 months and last week our staff participated in an engaging team-building workshop facilitated by People Reset. The team reflected on internal values, communication and personality spectrums.

What qualities make a person a Soil Health Champion?  This edition revisits SHC of the past, Rob Hetherington (2022) and Kane Page (2020).

Wheatbelt NRM announces the closure of Bettongia Santaleuca Sandalwood Products which has contributed to the recognition of sandalwood as a versatile and healthful ingredient. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our stakeholders, partners, and customers who supported us on this journey.

Ranger team consolidate over winter and plan for spring…

Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos will benefit from new funding for their Wheatbelt habitat, including artificial nests and pest control. Community sightings are crucial for tracking these birds and guiding conservation efforts—please report your sightings to help with conservation efforts.

Wheatbelt NRM, funded by the Natural Heritage Trust, will boost conservation for the Eucalypt Woodlands and Chuditch in WA. The project includes habitat protection, revegetation, pest control, and fire management, with community input crucial for tracking these species.

Wheatbelt NRM recently attended a webinar on the potential arrival of HPAI H5N1 in Australia. With Oceania being the last unaffected region, experts warn that this virus could reach us as soon as this spring, posing severe risks to wildlife and poultry.

In 2024, Wheatbelt NRM celebrates its’ 30 year legacy of stewardship. Evolving from the initial combined Swan-Avon Integrated Catchment Group into the Avon Working Group, Avon Catchment Council, and then Wheatbelt NRM, our ethos and core values have held strong.

Our environmental brand has gained momentum across 30 years of leadership and working with the community to manage natural resources across the region…