Granite hills, creek valleys, sand plains, natural salt lakes, a profusion of wildflowers, threatened wildlife and plants. These may be protected soon in the next Bush Heritage Reserve.

South-west Western Australia is listed as one of the world’s 25 biodiversity ‘hot spots’*. The region is renowned for its remarkable vegetation communities, where vivid displays of bizarre plants bring visitors from around the world. With over 5,400 known plant species and new species still being discovered, it is like nothing else on earth.

Tragically, only about 10% of the original vegetation remains in this south-west agricultural region, and it is a priority for protection. Further land clearing for agricultural and residential development, damage by feral animals and lack of fire management still threaten many of these remnants.

Bush Heritage and its supporters have a wonderful opportunity to protect a part of this unique and internationally important ecosystem. With invaluable help from colleagues in Western Australia, Bush Heritage has recently assessed over 20 properties for potential acquisition. Four have been short-listed and a new Bush Heritage Reserve is imminent, but it is people like you that will make this a reality - with some exciting and unexpected assistance.

A special donor has committed a substantial sum for a purchase in the South-west. When this purchase proceeds they have pledged to match dollar for dollar the donations of Bush Heritage supporters for the purchase and management of the new reserve. What a wonderful way to make your donation even more effective. What ever you can give, Bush Heritage will receive double that amount. Let’s not waste this wonderfully generous offer and the opportunities that it presents. Please join this new, exciting and innovative partnership, and we’ll protect another outstanding example of Australia’s remarkable natural heritage.

* Biodiversity ‘hot spots’ are internationally recognized areas of exceptionally high species richness and endemism identified by the US-based Conservation International. Southwest Western Australia also features in the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Global 200 Eco-regions and Birdlife International’s ‘Important Bird Areas’.

Some images from the 20 properties that were assessed for their biodiversity values. PHOTOS: PHIL CULLEN