Recognition, protection and integrated management for one of Australia’s great natural areas through the involvement of local communities and stakeholders and for the benefit of people, nature and future generations.
The Great Western Woodlands Collaboration
We are an alliance of four conservation organisations; The Wilderness Society, Pew Environment group, The Nature Conservancy and Gondwana Link.
We are working with the communities and stakeholders of the Woodlands to have this area protected, managed and promoted in a way that:
- Recognises and manages the area as a single entity (or landscape), not as fragmented, separate parts
- Provides substantial financial & human resources for ongoing management
- Supports ongoing, well managed, economic and recreational land uses
- Ensures the rights of Traditional Owners are respected, with a high level of engagement in ownership, management and protection of culture and heritage
- Highlights the area’s status as a very special, diverse and beautiful Australian landscape
- Maximises local community leadership and involvement
How can we achieve this?
- Through the development of a regional management structure involving all participating stakeholders and underpinned by strong, positive, long term working relationships.
- Through a Government commitment to statutory recognition, protection and management of the outstanding values of the Great Western Woodlands.
- Through development of a comprehensive management plan which provides the scientific basis for future management and sets out a range of land use zones which provide ‘security of purpose’ for a mix of land uses including conservation, mining, recreation and Indigenous.
Where do we start?
The Great Western Woodlands Collaboration is seeking a single, integrated regional management approach, driven by stakeholders, to provide the most efficient and effective management for the woodlands as a whole.
This process commenced in 2009 with the creation by the WA government of a Great Western Woodlands Stakeholder Reference Group. This group, convened from broad interests in the area, included representation from mining, pastoral and tourism sectors, local and State government, Traditional Owners and conservation groups. A Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy has been released by the Department of Environment & Conservation with input from this group.
This strategy creates an opportunity for ongoing community participation in the planning and management process into the future.
This government-led strategy is an important step forward for managing this amazing region, but there are some issues that it doesn’t deal with, including secure legal protection of the Woodlands. With your support we will continue to advocate for this important recognition.
Download our project case statement 2 pager here.
Photos in order from the top;
A beautiful sunset in the Great Western Woodlands. Photo: Barbara Madden
Banded Stilts in flight. Photo: Amanda Keesing
