LANDSCOPE Magazine Volume 39, Number 1

Front cover Sticky kurrajong (Brachychiton viscidulus). Back cover Purnululu domes, Purnululu National Park. Photos – David Bettini LANDSCOPE is produced and printed on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar, the traditional lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation. We pay respects to them, their Elders past and present and to all Aboriginal people and acknowledge their continuing connection to lands across Western Australia. Western Australia is blessed with huge diversity in its…

Western Australia is blessed with huge diversity in its conservation estate—from the towering forests in the south-west to the ancient gorges of the Kimberley and the staggering marine life in coastal reserves and marine parks. As LANDSCOPE goes to print, a significant milestone is about to be reached in the Plan for Our Parks initiative, with 2.5 million hectares of new national and marine parks and conservation reserves created across WA since 2019, marking the initiative’s 50 per cent milestone. We’re on track to reach the Plan for Our Parks five-million-hectare target in early 2024, meaning there are busy times ahead for the department and our many stakeholders and partners who have a role in creating and managing these new parks. In this issue of LANDSCOPE you will read about…

Robert Davis has been an Identification Botanist for the Western Australian Herbarium for the past 30 years. He currently identifies priority and threatened flora, as well as other plants. His responsibilities include taxonomy, where he has described several new native Western Australian plant species. Rob edits flora content and contributes photographs for LANDSCOPE magazine and other departmental publications and websites. Ivy James is a Communications Officer with DBCA and has previously worked as a regional journalist and media coordinator. She looks forward to telling her grandchildren how she once drove chuditch from Collie to Perth to support an interstate translocation. She still hasn’t got over the death of Steve Irwin, who she says inspired her as a child to be brave and value nature and wildlife. Megan Dilly is a passionate…

“I was inspired to write my poem ‘Nature’s Philosophy’ after reading a book about a distinguished naturalist who is a friend to the indigenous animals of the forest. While I don’t reside in Australia, I love LANDSCOPE’s focus on biodiversity and conservation and thought your readers might be interested in my poem, even if it’s all the way from England.” Poets Corner Nature’s Philosophy Nocturnal birds in sibilant causerieForest creatures in distant revelryWhile nature’s blanket dims their rivalryAnd stills the air to peaceful reverie How brief is this tranquillityAs hostile meetings in darkened shrubberyRemind, if only momentarilyThat man alone enjoys in camaraderie This issue of LANDSCOPE features a reader’s poem in place of the regular reader’s pic, which will return next issue. If you’ve got a fantastic nature photograph you…

Round 7 of the Aboriginal Ranger Program (ARP) is now open, with up to $13 million available from the Development Fund to support new and emerging ranger programs. The Development Fund is targeted at groups with aspirations to start a ranger program, or those that are in the early stages of operating a ranger program. Small grants of up to $150,000 are available for planning and development, and large grants of more than $150,000 for ranger operations. ARP round 7 is the final allocation of funding from the Development Fund, with the first $10 million allocated through ARP round 5. This new round of funding is part of an $83 million State Government investment, which to date has created more than 650 Aboriginal ranger jobs on Country. Eligible Aboriginal organisations…

Stuart Smith has been appointed Director General of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, commencing in the role on 10 July 2023. He has also been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Rottnest Island Authority and Zoological Parks Authority. With three decades in State and Commonwealth public service roles, Stuart Smith brings extensive experience to the position, including eight years as the chief executive of Australia’s offshore energy regulator and six years as Director General of the former Western Australian Department of Fisheries. He replaced Mark Webb PSM who retired at the end of 2022 after four decades of public service.…