About Us

An Ecoregion of Global Importance

The Southwest Australia Ecoregion is one of the top 34 biodiversity hotspots of the world. It encompasses 10 IBRA (Interim Biogeographic Regions of Australia) regions ranging from the northern sandplain heaths to the Swan coastal plains and wetlands, the tall forests to the woodlands and weathered granites of the Wheatbelt and the mallee and heaths of the south coast.

The Southwest Australia Ecoregion is characterised by an exceptional concentration of endemic species undergoing an exceptional loss of habitat. More than 4000 species of native plants and 100 native mammals, birds, frogs and reptiles have been recorded in the region, with other plant species believed to be yet discovered. Many of these natives are rare and endangered, giving the Southwest Australia Ecoregion the highest concentration of rare and endangered species on the Australian continent.

The protection of these natural assets and the ecological integrity of this region is vital as a basis for sustainable development. The indirect impacts of vegetation clearing on private and public assets through dryland salinity, is a stark example. Poor management and neglect of native vegetation, encroachment of urban and peri-urban development and degradation of precious soil and water resources also lead to the depletion of this critical natural capital.

Click on the link for the descriptive booklet to find out more about this special region.

Southwest Australia Ecoregion descriptive booklet

What is the Southwest Australia Ecoregion Initiative?

The Southwest Australia Ecoregion Initiative (SWAEI) is bringing together people to secure conservation and sustainable communities across the Southwest Australia Ecoregion. Through this initiative, conservation of Australia’s only biodiversity hotspot is being combined with actions to support the local communities and local economy. The Initiative is a partnership of key decision-makers, businesses, conservation organisations and groups and local communities within the region.

Vision, Mission and Goals.PDF

Conservation through Collaboration

The Initiative is a dynamic partnership of over 20 key decision-making organisations from the region. NGOs (non-governmental organisations), governmental representatives, scientific institutions, regional and national funders and community representatives have come together to develop a joint vision for the Southwest Australia ecoregion.

Conservation through collaboration.PDF

The Challenge

By working with key decision-makers from the region, local communities and the business sector, the Southwest Australia Ecoregion Initiative will develop a long-term Vision for development over the next 50 years. This is a vision that will conserve, and work in harmony with, the region's natural environment - the only way to secure long-term benefits for local people.

Such a shared vision can only be developed following an analysis of the existing biological and socio-economic conditions of the Southwest Australian Ecoregion. The Initiative will undertake a four to six month data gathering process (2003-04), providing the first ever overall picture of biodiversity health of the ecoregion. This information will be overlaid with an socio-economic assessment. The results will be summarised in the Status of the Southwest Australia Ecoregion report and CD and a range of vision maps will be also available.

New approach

To use natural resources wisely, people in government, businesses, and communities need to understand the risks, opportunities, and trade-offs that are often hidden.

The Southwest Australia Ecoregion Initiative is a new approach to conservation that works with nature’s natural boarders. An Ecoregion is a relatively large area of land or water that harbours a characteristic set of species, communities, dynamics and environmental conditions.

Ecoregion conservation develops large-scale strategies for 'ecoregions' to ensure that entire ecological processes are maintained. While many other conservation approaches focus on one site or level, ecoregion conservation ensures that these site- level activities are part of a larger strategy. Developing a strategy for multiple sites allows the community to identify and tackle common threats, thereby producing a greater impact more efficiently.

We aim to work with all those who affect or are affected by biodiversity across the ecoregion, and this means working with local communities, as well as local business, and considering socio-economic and biodiversity issues.

The Bigger Picture

The Initiative has established an integrated and holistic approach, one that involves linking with other biodiversity plans (State and Regional) conservation plans, linking with the State Sustainability plan, Development commissions, business plans and fulfilling our international obligations. As well as linking with other ecoregion initiative’s around the world. Quite simply, we cannot work effectively in isolation - collaboration is essential Many issues demand a broader approach if we are to have effective conservation.

Create Awareness

The Southwest Australia Ecoregion has out standing biodiversity values still poorly appreciated within the region, nationally and internationally. The initiative will promote biodiversity awareness generally, and through school biodiversity education projects, twinning city programs and highlighting existing biodiversity projects.