Conservation management
This page includes information about the City’s plan for the conservation, restoration, and preservation of biodiversity.
The City of Stirling is committed to conserving, protecting, and enhancing our community’s natural spaces and biodiversity. The City is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, many of which are unique to the region and require careful management to ensure their survival. The City, together with the community, has a responsibility to support biodiversity in our natural and urban environments to create connected, healthy ecosystems. It is critical that we care for these areas to ensure their existence for future generations.
The City’s Parks and Environment team is dedicated to the planning, conservation, and management of the City’s biodiversity and natural spaces.
The City manages its natural areas under the strategic guidance of its Local Biodiversity Strategy and site-specific management plans for significant bushlands and wetlands.
The strategy provides a set of strategic visions and governing principles for conservation in the City which includes:
- Preserving current and future areas for protection
- Policy recommendations for legislative protection
- Recommendations for managing and addressing key threatening processes
- Strengthening local biodiversity
- Involving the community through engagement and education.
Urban bushlands are increasingly under threat from a range of degrading processes. Understanding the reasons behind bushland degradation and the specific factors that lead to it is crucial for effective conservation and management.
Key threatening processes include:
Activities such as walking off track, vegetation clearing, and off-track biking or BMX can cause destruction of habitat and native plants through trampling and spreading diseases.
Non-native plants
Invasive plant species can outcompete native vegetation, altering habitat structure and reducing biodiversity.
Non-native animals
Feral cats, foxes, European carp and rabbits can predate on or compete with native wildlife, leading to declines in native species populations.
Bushfire
Accidental or intentional fires can cause significant ecological damage, particularly if they occur too frequently and do not allow for natural recovery.
Water quality decline
Pesticides, fertilisers, and other chemicals from urban areas can enter bushlands and wetlands through runoff, contaminating soil and water, and harming plants and animals.
Disease - Phytophthora dieback
Phytophtora dieback, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi, affects a wide range of native plant species, and leads to plant death resulting from lack of water and nutrient absorption.
Littering and rubbish dumping
Urban waste, including plastics and other debris, can degrade the visual and ecological quality of bushlands, posing risks to wildlife that may ingest or become entangled in litter.
Climate change
Alterations in climate patterns as well as increased frequency of storms, droughts, and fires can cause direct damage to bushlands, exacerbate existing threats, and disrupt ecological processes.
Dedicated programs and projects assist in the conservation and management of the community’s natural spaces and biodiversity.
Current conservation projects include:
Conservation reserve condition assessments
Strategic program that monitors the health of the City’s reserves to inform management and future works.
Bushfire risk mitigation
Seasonal program to reduce fire fuel loads, ensure firebreak compliance, and improve reserve access for emergency services.
Integrated and seasonal weed management
Seasonal program to control invasive weeds such as veldt grass and black flag, in bushlands, wetlands, and coastal reserves using an integrated approach of chemical-free methods and selective use of herbicides when necessary.
Integrated pest management program
Annual program targeting introduced species such as foxes, rabbits, and carp.
Phytophthora dieback monitoring and treatment program
Annual testing and treatment of dieback affected areas in the City.
Wildlife monitoring and management
Specialised wildlife recovery projects focusing on supporting locally and regionally threatened or endangered wildlife. Current programs focus on supporting wildlife through habitat infrastructure and access to water e.g. insect hotels, bat boxes, bird waterers etc.
Conservation fencing and limestone track upgrade program
Annual program that focuses on improving pathways within reserves, protecting sensitive areas, disease affected or threatened biodiversity from degradation.
Revegetation programs
Annual planting program of reserves with native species for restoration. Planting often done in collaboration with the community, schools and conservation volunteers.
Bushland amalgamation projects
Specialised project that will see parks with numerous small bushland ‘pockets’ revegetated to form larger and few bushland pockets. Due to their small size, some reserves are highly susceptible to threatening processes and are therefore not self-sustainable into the future.
Wetland and water quality monitoring
Seasonal wetland sampling, monitoring and analysis to monitor for changes and trends in water quality.
Monitoring of acid sulphate soils in wetlands and remediation of areas when required. Past examples have included areas such as Spoonbill Shearwater Reserve.
Conservation reserve maintenance
General maintenance of all the City's reserves on a rotational roster.
Careniup Wetlands Reserve Management Program
Ongoing management of Careniup Wetlands to ensure both the community’s future recreational needs are met and the site’s environmental and landscape qualities are preserved and enhanced. Current works include removal of invasive weeds and revegetation.
Engaging with community volunteers is not only vital for environmental protection but also fosters a sense of belonging and ownership among residents. In the City of Stirling, several on-ground community volunteer groups act as custodians of local natural spaces, playing a crucial role in bushland conservation.
Joining a local volunteer group offers members of the community an opportunity to connect with nature, acquire new skills, and make a tangible positive impact on the environment.
Volunteering can also lead to new friendships and strengthen the community bond among residents.
Discover your local volunteer group below and get involved in preserving our precious natural spaces:
Stirling Natural Environment Coastcare
Friends of Star Swamp Bushland
Friends of Trigg Bushland
Friends of Lake Gwelup
Friends of Inglewood Triangle
Friends of Coolbinia Bushland
Friends of Williton Kestrel (Karrinyup)
Friends of Cottonwood Bushland (Dianella)
Friends of Herdsman Lake