National Forum

Preserving The Bush on "Koobabbie"
Alison Doley

The purpose of this paper is to:

• Give a brief history of a farm that has been owned by one family for 95 years;
• Outline the outside influences that have moulded our approach to conservation and our understanding of the environment;
• Highlight management issues involved in preserving bush;
• Explain how we have arrived at our approach to covenanting; and
• State what do we as landholders need by way of support.

"Koobabbie" is a 6,885 ha farming property in the Waddy Forest district, 250 km north of Perth. It has been owned by the one family since it was selected in 1906. The farm produces sheep for wool and prime lambs, beef cattle, wheat, barley, oats, lupins and chick peas.

The first and second generations cleared the land wisely, preserving a wide selection of remnant vegetation. The third generation has fenced 2,857 ha or 41.5% from livestock to allow re-generation and long term preservation, commencing in 1970. "Between Wodjil and Tor" by Barbara York Main convinced us of the value of preserving remnant vegetation.

In 1979 the Coorow Wildflower Study Group was formed, and through this we met many knowledgeable ecologists and botanists who helped identify plants and provide advice on a number of rare plants and the endangered Carnaby's Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latitostris which occur on "Koobabbie".

Bush requires management. It is necessary to maintain fences to exclude livestock, control kangaroo numbers, foxes and rabbits, and stop weeds invading.

To ensure that future owners of "Koobabbie" preserve the remnant vegetation, we have commenced the process of covenanting the bush with the National Trust.

In 1987 we purchased 2,208 ha of which 348 ha are arable, while the rest, comprising salt lake country and rocky hills, has been closed to livestock. The only known population of Halosarcia koobabbiensis grows here, and two other rare plants.

To continue in their efforts to preserve the bush, farmers would welcome the assistance of more volunteer labour to help with planting native seedlings and weed control, assistance with the cost of fencing and increased information and advice as provided by 'Land for Wildlife''