South West NRM secures Federal Government’s support to continue leading environmental management in region

A South West environmental group will keep leading natural resource management in the region after securing continued Federal Government backing.

South West NRM has been appointed to a panel of Regional Delivery Partners across the country under a new five-year agreement.

The group has spent $13.5 million on environmental, conservation and sustainable agriculture projects since 2018 as part of its work in the region.

Some of its projects have including assisting the war on feral cats, planting 15,000 trees with community support and reducing run-off into the Vasse Wonnerup Wetlands.

The group have also played a part in protecting endangered species endemic to the region, including the western ringtail possum and Carnaby’s cockatoos.

Board chair Karen Boyce welcomed the news, which continues two decades of work conducted on behalf of the Federal Government.

“Appointment to the panel of Regional Delivery Partners is an absolute vote of confidence by the Australian Government in our organisation’s ability to deliver multi-million dollar projects capable of creating game-changing environmental outcomes across the South West’s four million hectares of natural and farmed landscapes,” she said.

“Our region is within one of only 36 global biodiversity hotspots which means we have some of the rarest, yet most threatened species on earth within our stewardship.

“We take that responsibility very seriously and look forward to continuing to engage with local landcare groups, Traditional Owners, landholders and the local community on a series of exciting new environmental projects we have in the pipeline.”

The group will continue to collaborate with the federal departments of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water and Agriculture, Water and Resources on a series of projects all designed to achieve environmental outcomes.