Farmers pitch in to save Great Southern woodlands

Tarin Rock farmer Marc Pearce has replanted his 180ha property with threatened native species in an effort to conserve the biodiversity of the Tarin Rock Nature Reserve.

Department of Parks and Wildlife conservation officer, Marissah Kruger said that the Commonwealth Government had recently listed the Wheatbelt woodlands as a critically endangered zone.

“Most of the species that we planted there are threatened woodland species such as wandoo, Red Morrel and York gum woodlands,” Ms Kruger said.

The Tarin Rock Priority Landscape Project was first established in 2002 and there have been 60 conservation projects on private property around the area.

Ms Kruger said the community has been responding well to the project and she was grateful to see Mr Pearce’s efforts as he finds time to fit conservation work in-between farming.

Ms Kruger said that Tarin Rock has a high biodiversity value compared to other Great Southern areas.

“The Tarin Rock area, which covers 45,000ha, has a range of landscapes and remnant vegetation, including woodland, mallee and Kwongan heath.

“It also supports a diverse population of native animals such as Carnaby’s cockatoos and red-tailed phascogales,” she said. So far the project has recovered and protects more than 2600ha of vegetation and replanted more than 250,000 native plants.

The conservation project is a joint effort between Tarin Rock farmers, DPaW, the South West Catchments Council, Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management and Dumbleyung Landcare.