This property in Ravensthorpe was purchased by the current owners with a clear intention to restore it to its former glory. The property is surrounded by unique natural vegetation – in close proximity to the Fitzgerald River National Park – and approximately 11 hectares of remnant bush on the property was already protected by a Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) covenant. Other areas had been cleared in the 1970s for cropping and grazing, and these areas were targeted in this ecological restoration project.
Ravensthorpe biodiverse carbon sink 18 months after seeding.
Natural regeneration did not occur on the cleared areas due to the limited dispersal of flora of the region. Active re-vegetation was required to re-establish a functional plant community. Carbon Neutral decided to fund the restoration of the Ravensthorpe property to offset carbon emissions.
Restoration Design and Implementation
Threshold Environmental was commissioned to plan and deliver a biodiverse carbon planting covering 35.12 ha. Aside from carbon sequestration, the restoration of the site provides other ecological benefits, such as prevention of soil erosion and salinisation of the catchment system, and provision of a wildlife corridor.
The restoration plan encompassed five different plant communities which were seeded in 2010.
In the winter of 2010, a total of 43 native species were direct-seeded with a Precision Placement Biodiversity Seeder. Monitoring in 2011 and 2012 showed that there is excellent recruitment of carbon sequestering and other native species across the whole site.
For more information on this project, or to arrange a site visit, please contact us.
Project commissioned by:
