Traditional knowledge
Traditional Custodians have recorded sea level changes, volcanic shifts and meteoric events for over 10,000 years through story, song, dance and art.
Bush Heritage’s most recent reserve acquisitions share two key features: unusual names – Dodgey Downs and Nil Desperandum – and crucial links to existing reserves.
Reconnecting landscapes is a key goal of our 2030 Strategy. These two new reserves will allow us to reconnect fragmented landscapes, strengthen habitat resilience and support climate change mitigation through large-scale ecological restoration.
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Remnant pockets of bush at Dodgey Downs Reserve, Goreng Noongar Country, WA. By Bee Stephens.
In south-west Western Australia, Dodgey Downs offers exciting opportunities for landscape restoration. Located 430 km south-east of Perth on Goreng Noongar Country, Dodgey Downs is 762-hectares of mostly cleared land between our Red Moort and Monjebup Reserves.
“Dodgey Downs has been on my wish list for years,” says Alex Hams, former Healthy Landscapes Manager for South-West Western Australia.
“It’s a dream pocket of land that will enhance our ability to continue to have a positive impact in the Fitz-Stirling region – one of the most biodiverse places on our continent.”
The acquisition allows our conservation work to extend across nearly 7,000 hectares of connected bushland, which is home to threatened species such as Noolbenger (Honey Possum), Gnow (Malleefowl) and Ngoolark (Carnaby’s Cockatoo).
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Royal Spoonbill captured at Nil Desperandum Reserve, Budjiti Country, NSW. By: Annette Ruzicka.
Moving east, Nil Desperandum, a 4,037-hectare property on Budjiti Country north-west of Bourke in New South Wales, adjoins Naree Station and South Endeavour Trust’s Yantabulla Reserve.
“This addition allows us to look after both sides of the Cuttaburra Creek,” explains ecologist Bridget Roberts.
“We're able to reduce grazing pressure and have better control of threats across an area of 35,000 hectares.”
Nil Desperandum, meaning ‘don’t despair’, is aptly named. Located in the nationally significant Yantabulla Swamp, the landscape often endures dry spells – but when water arrives, it bursts into life. Migratory birds flock to the swamp to rest, feed, and breed. Cockatiels and budgerigars chatter overhead, while ducks, gulls, and pelicans splash in the water.
We gratefully acknowledge the donors and supporters who made our protection and ongoing management of Dodgey Downs and Nil Desperandum possible.
