Grants of up to $10,000 are available for private landholders in the Peel Harvey region who opt to conserve bushland on their property.
The Wetland Watch project, run by WWF-Australia, offers grants to landholders for fencing, weed control and native revegetation. Applications for the next round of grants are being accepted now.
“The Peel Harvey region is recognised internationally as home to a remarkable range of species and habitats that are found nowhere else in the world,” said Brett Brenchley, WWF-Australia Project Co- ordinator for Wetland Watch.
“Very little of this extraordinary region has been set aside in protected areas. Without the help of private landholders we could lose key Peel Harvey habitats â including internationally recognised Ramsar listed wetlands – and many exceptionally rare species of plants and animals that live there.”
Gillian Turner, who lives on two hectares in Stakehill, has already received her grant to restore the bushland and spray against veldt grass – a highly invasive weed – over the entire property.
As part of the process she has had a range of experts visit her property to see what kind of plant and animal species were found there. The visits have opened her eyes to rich biodiversity on her land.
“I knew I had a wonderful patch of bush but I was fighting a losing battle with weeds until the Wetland Watch team visited,” said Gillian.
“In the near future the team will set up camera traps to see if we can capture on film which animals visit our land at night.”
For a property to be considered for a Wetland Watch grant it must be close to a Ramsar wetland, have bushland in good condition or be in close proximity to bushland in good condition.
For more details about Wetland Watch grants contact WWF-Australia Project Co-ordinator for Wetland Watch Brett Brenchley on 9550 3284.
Brett and landholder Gillian Turner are available for interviews.
More Information
Alvin Stone, WWF-Australia. Ph: 8202 1259. Mbl: 0410 221 068. Email: [email protected]