A joint project by the Water Corporation and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has resulted in a former pine plantation being revegetated as habitat for the endangered Carnaby’s cockatoo.
Minister for Water, Dave Kelly said that in order to protect groundwater resources, more than 5,600 native seedlings were being planted across the 28-hectare site in Pinjar.
“In addition to promoting and protecting recharge to the Gnangara Groundwater System, which provides about 40 per cent of Perth’s drinking water to the metropolitan area, the native vegetation will also provide valuable habitat for native wildlife,” Mr Kelly said.
“This project is contributing toward a wider DBCA program that will utilise opportunities to create and manage habitat for native wildlife, including foraging and roosting habitat for the endangered Carnaby’s cockatoo.”
He said the partnership also helped meet the Water Corporation’s no-net-clearing commitment, which offset required land clearing with hectare-for-hectare revegetation.
Minister for the Environment, Stephen Dawson said the project complemented a further 20,000 seedlings that were also planted by DBCA this year as part of an ongoing program that has seen 15,000-to-20,000 seedlings planted in Gnangara each year over the past five years.
“DBCA will continue to collaborate with the community and organisations to return native vegetation to the former pine plantation areas of the Gnangara State forest and create habitat for the endangered Carnaby’s cockatoo and other native wildlife,” Mr Dawson said.
“It’s great to see DBCA and the Water Corporation working together to improve the species’ habitat to aid conservation efforts for Carnaby’s cockatoo.”
