Drawing together cultural knowledge, scientific expertise and local insights to better understand and protect important peatland ecosystems across the region was the aim of a recent field visit involving partners and funders of the landmark PEAT Southwest project.
South West NRM joined fellow project partners, including The University of Western Australia and Undalup Association, alongside representatives from PEAT Southwest project funders Lotterywest and The Ian Potter Foundation, to explore two peatland sites east of Margaret River.
It was a day that brought to life what the project is all about: bringing people together, drawing on different sources of knowledge and working collaboratively to better understand the region’s peatlands.
Sharing cultural knowledge and scientific expertise
Undalup Association Chairperson Wayne Webb and Wadandi–Pibulmun Cultural Custodian Zac Webb joined the group in the field, where Zac welcomed everyone to Country and shared cultural knowledge of the landscape, stories and traditional practices, including demonstrating how plants were used to make snares for catching marron.
Peatland expert Pierre Horwitz brought the science to life, demonstrating the characteristics of peat and sharing insights into these ancient ecosystems, formed through the accumulation of organic material over thousands of years. The two sites visited are part of the region’s network of Empodisma peatlands, which provide important habitat for rare and unique plants and animals, while playing a vital role in storing carbon, regulating water and supporting biodiversity.
Among the fascinating insights Pierre shared was that peat is surprisingly cool to the touch compared to other wet soil, and gently rubbing a sample near your ear can help reveal some of its characteristics.
South West NRM’s Lorraine Duffy and Tom Andrews also involved Deb Bow (Lotterywest) and Sam Armstrong (The Ian Potter Foundation) in examining peat samples and using the project’s Rapid Field Assessment App to record peatland characteristics, vegetation condition and potential threats. The app supports a consistent approach to field assessments, helping project partners and local groups contribute to the wider effort to map and assess peatlands across the region.
South West NRM’s Lorraine Duffy and Tom Andrews demonstrate peat sampling and guide Deb Bow (Lotterywest) and Sam Armstrong (The Ian Potter Foundation) through using the project’s Rapid Field Assessment App.
Building a better understanding of our peatlands
Despite their ecological importance, significant gaps remain in our understanding of where peatlands occur across southwestern Australia, their condition and the threats they face.
PEAT Southwest (Protecting Peatland Ecosystems and Addressing Threats in Southwestern Australia) is bringing together researchers, Traditional Custodians, regional partners and local communities to address these knowledge gaps.
Identifying, mapping and assessing peatlands across the region is a significant undertaking. It relies not only on scientific research, but also on local knowledge, community involvement and practical tools that enable people to contribute to the work.
The information gathered through the project will help build a stronger foundation for future peatland management.
The field visit was a valuable opportunity to see this collaborative approach in action and share progress with the organisations helping make it possible.
South West NRM thanks everyone involved, particularly Lotterywest and The Ian Potter Foundation for their support of this important work.
Learn more: https://southwestnrm.org.au/project/protecting-peatland-ecosystems/
PEAT Southwest is co-led by The University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University, guided by Noongar Elders, and delivered in collaboration with Undalup Association, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), the Western Australian Museum, Walpole-Nornalup National Park Association, Biologic Environmental, South West NRM and South Coast NRM.