The projects range from supporting voluntary groups to monitor and record data from Malleefowl mounds, to the up to date technique of using LiDAR imagery to detect possible malleefowl mounds which can then be assessed on a ground-truthing exercise.

In December a light plane flew over the survey areas which includes Ninghan Station, Charles Darwin Reserve and Mount Gibson Sanctuary which produced a series of aerial images. Bush Heritage, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, North Central Malleefowl Preservation Group and the Bell Family are working together to make this innovative project lead us onto the next platform of monitoring malleefowl mounds.

Murdoch University held several regional meetings last week to start the conversation of the possibilities of establishing a Geopark in the Wheatbelt of WA. A Geopark is an area of geological significance and includes cultural and social values connected with the area. Opportunities that arise out of a Geopark comprise of economic and social development, along with conservation, education and scientific activities. For this to eventuate they are reliant on stakeholder support and have distributed a survey which is available at the local Community Resource Centres.
(Please take the time to fill the survey in and send back to Alan Briggs at Murdoch University.)

Research by the Conservation Council WA which has identified and mapped a range of refugia on the conservation stations has been completed and this project is progressing from the remote sensing to the field investigation phase.

The Central Wheatbelt Declared Species Group is in the process of developing a Regional Wild Dog Management Plan and has had consultation with landholders in the region. The group furthermore supports landholders to protect the biodiversity of local native fauna which is under threat from introduced feral animals such as foxes, cats and rabbits.

Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group in partnership with Moore Catchment Council are working with landholders to reconnect remnant vegetation and establish vegetation corridors allowing increased areas of native habitat. 20,000 seedlings have been ordered, consultation with landholders is underway and the design for the interpretative sign for Buntine has begun. A monitoring camera has been set up at a malleefowl mound to record activity for ongoing research.