Wallatin and O’Brien Catchments:
Wallatin Wildlife and Landcare Inc. will be planting as many as 7,500 mallee trees to tackle the loss of biodiversity, declining water quality and rising soil salinity of the state’s central-eastern wheatbelt. The wheatbelt provides approximately 65 per cent of the states grain supply.
Site description
• In Western Australia dryland salinity is a major environmental challenge where at least 1 million hectares are affected.
• The Wallatin and O’Brien Creek Catchments are located in the Kellerberrin Shire in the central eastern wheatbelt, 240 km east of Perth.
• Like many catchments across Australia, land clearing in the Wallatin and O’Brien catchments has upset the natural water balance causing secondary salinity which is expected to rise from six per cent to 34% of the catchment during the next 50 years, if no further salinity management is carried out and the watertable continues to rise.
• The catchments face salinisation in valley floors, hillsides and areas of remnant bushland in the upper landscapes.
• Most farms in the catchment are crop dominant, with 70% of arable area allocated to crop and the remainder livestock.
The Group
Wallatin Wildlife and Landcare Inc. (WWL) were originally formed to tackle loss of biodiversity, declining water quality, salinity, waterlogging and soil productivity decline. These problems were similar to those being tackled by other groups - however, the WWL focused on partnerships for scientific research as well as land conservation works.
The group’s 25 members have achieved major outcomes on the ground, such as nature conservation plantings, surface water management and self sufficiency, agroforestry, salinity risk management, engineering solutions and perennial plantings, as well as contributing to new knowledge and land management practices. Wallatin Wildlife and Landcare membershave developed salinity remediation demonstration trials to build their capacity to manage this problem.
Wallatin Wildlife & Landcare’s work was recognised in the 2007–08 Western Australian Landcare Awards, with the group being awarded the Nature Conservation Award
The Project
7,500 plants of Mallee which will assist in reducing the water table and addressing the issue of salinity.
For further information visit: www.landcareonline.com.au
Did you know:
- Over 90 per cent of a mobile phones and its accessories are recyclable, 0 per cent is biodegradable
- 7 out of 10 Australians have at least one old unused mobile phone at home
- There are over 22 million phone subscribers in Australia
- One tonne of mobile phone circuits can yield the same amount of precious metals as 110 tonnes of gold ore, 123 tonnes of silver ore and 11 tonnes of copper sulphide ore
- There are an estimated 16 million unused or broken mobile phones stored at home and work that could be recycled
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