Biodiversity & Cultural Conservation strategy for Great Western Woodlands in final review phase

The WA government’s promised Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy for the Great Western Woodlands (GWW) has been finalised and is now being reviewed by various state government agencies, before being presented to the Western Australian Minister for the Environment.

The Strategy was compiled by the Department of Environment & Conservation (DEC) after a year of meetings with a stakeholder reference group appointed by the government. 

The Great Western Woodlands - beautiful, unique and diverse. Photo: Barbara Madden

This Strategy underpins the Liberal-National Government’s election commitment, and will determine the spending of a 3.8 million dollar budget allocation. The recent State budget has seen $800,000 allocated over the next 3 years under ‘new works’ and $3 million over the next 3 years under DEC’s ‘Nature Conservation Program’.

Once the Strategy document has been presented to Cabinet, it is anticipated that the government will reconvene the stakeholder group to help determine the allocation of the bulk of the money in the budget commitment.

The Great Western Woodlands Collaboration commends the government’s initiative in bringing the stakeholders of this region together and developing the Strategy – a first for GWW! We look forward to the public release of the Strategy and welcome the opportunity for ongoing community participation in the planning and management process into the future.

It is important to note that while the Strategy is an important step forward for management of the Woodlands, it does not deal with issues like land use planning, Native Title or statutory recognition of this global treasure in our backyard. 

Click here to learn more about the Great Western Woodlands