Dowerin nursery owner and farmer Rob Boase was named WA’s Individual Landcarer at the 2017 Western Australian Landcare Awards in Perth two weeks ago.
Mr Boase was nominated by the Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management (NRM) group to acknowledge his tireless work in protecting unique and rare flora and vegetation across the Wheatbelt.
Since the 1970s, Mr Boase and his wife have been committed to protecting the unique, rare and amazing flora and vegetation of the region.
Not only has Mr Boase protected the remnant vegetation of his Dowerin property through Landcare activities and placing a conservation covenant on the property, he is also recognised as being one of the leading experts in the Wheatbelt on its unique flora.
Through his nursery, Arinya Plants, Mr Boase has supported revegetation across the Wheatbelt, by cultivating some of the more difficult species, being responsible for his own planting of more than 78,000 from his nursery and has participated in groups such as the Central Wheatbelt Threatened Flora Recovery Team, Wheatbelt NRM and the local Landcare group.
Mr Boase is currently assisting with the cultivation of some lesser known bush tucker species for the Aboriginal NRM Program.
The Boase property is testament of how to conserve fragmented vegetation and Mr Boase’s initiatives have resulted in his position as the custodian of an important wetland which supports a number of threatened species.
The Moore Catchment Council (MCC) was announced the winner of the Fairfax Landcare Community Group.
The community-led not for profit organisation was set up in 1995 to maintain and improve the health of the Moore River environment by fostering natural resource management and encouraging maximum sustainable use of resources.
Working at grass roots level to maintain and repair the Moore River’s natural environment, MCC encourages sustainable farming and land management practices and builds community capacity in conserving the river catchment against current and impending threats.
Achievements include the successful completion of 60 projects worth $5.7 million over the past 22 years, with 13 more projects in progress.
MCC prides itself on effective and productive stakeholder engagement with local government, government departments, industry, community members and groups, landholders, and the Aboriginal community.
Some of MCC’s key priorities are creating Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo forage and breeding habitat, planting multi-beneficial shrub systems on farms and sharing Aboriginal knowledge and providing Working on Country opportunities with the local Yued community.
With limited resources and a drive to be efficient, creative and innovative, the work ute has been creatively converted to carry more than 2000 seedlings for delivery – twice the number it could previously carry and so has halved delivery trips.
Dowerin nursery owner Rob Boase received the Individual Landcarer Award for his tireless work protecting unique and rare flora and vegetation across the Wheatbelt and for his contribution to revegetation projects by cultivating many plant species through his nursery.
All of the winners will represent WA in their respective award categories at the 2018 National Landcare Awards to be held next year.
The State and territory Landcare Awards are co-ordinated in WA by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and supported by Landcare Australia with funding from the federal government’s national Landcare program.
Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan paid tribute to the winners.
“Congratulations to all of the winners for their outstanding efforts, which have created a better environment for us all today and for our future generations.”