The Stirling wetlands, between Busselton and Capel, are home to a vast array of water birds, insects, and remnant vegetation.
The wetlands cross multiple private properties, and now six neighbours have come together to reconnect remaining wetland habitat areas. To date, 1.5km of stock exclusion fencing is planned for installation to protect 2560 new seedlings.
As the inundation recedes this winter, landholder Paul Mutton has begun springtime planting across his wetland property. GeoCatch project officer Michelle Hughes explained the excitement around planting in the wetlands.
“Until now, the winter water levels have been too high to plant anything. As the water levels start to recede, we gain access to some wetland refugia sites that will soon reconnect with native vegetation and provide ecological linkages across multiple properties,” said Michelle.
This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program.
