Climate Change

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to ecosystems and humanity. In 2023, records for every single climate indicator⁽¹⁾ – such as greenhouse gas levels, surface temperatures, ocean heat and sea level rise – were broken. In Australia, the decade from 2011 to 2020 was the warmest on record⁽²⁾. And each year, we continue to see higher temperatures, as month after month the planet warms.

Temperature influences where plants and animals live, their growth and migration, and the overall ecosystem health. According to the United Nations, climate change has already contributed to biodiversity decline, mass mortality events of plants and animals, and even species’ extinction.

But while nature is harmed by climate change, it's also one of our best defenses.

Scientists have warned that we have an 80% chance of exceeding the global mean near-surface temperature of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels before 2028.⁽³⁾ This has raised fears that humanity could be exposed to the worst-case climate scenarios. However, the United Nations says greenhouse gas emission could be reduced by about 30% by the end of the decade by working with and enhancing nature’s ability to absorb emissions. 

Nature-based solutions

Greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere. Many are produced and released by nature and are part of what makes the planet’s temperature warm and hospitable for life. But a drastic increase in human activities such as burning fossil fuels has rapidly increased the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and accelerated climate change.  

If we invest in healing and protecting the natural world, alongside a global transition to renewable energy, we can reverse some of the damage done to our atmosphere and landscapes. We can give nature a fighting chance.  

Climate science for strategic action 

Working with CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology, we used data and climate projections to map the climate futures of the landscapes we work across. The mapping shows how different vegetation types and species will be impacted by the best and worst-case climate change scenarios. With this knowledge we're getting on the front foot to adapt and manage the impacts of climate change. 

Under our priority landscapes model, we determine where and how we work. In different areas we may focus on protecting large areas of intact biodiversity that are projected to be more resilient to climate change, or focus on smaller land acquisitions and partnerships to re-connect vital habitats and create wildlife corridors. Or we’ll focus on strengthening at-risk landscapes through restoration, innovation and collaboration with others. 

Creating strongholds for species 

Land clearing for human use has left many species and ecosystems exposed to the impacts of climate change. Ecosystems work in harmony – if you remove one or two species from the environment, a domino effect can occur, and the ecosystem can start to collapse. This is why nature corridors and areas of intact habitat are vitally important for native species. 

By protecting this land, we give species space to move as the conditions change. Our work touches millions of hectares across this vast continent. Using conservation science, we assess and monitor the health of habitats and the threats they face to help them weather any potential storms.  

Reconnecting and restoring bushland 

Our continent has some of the oldest and most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. When we remove them, we remove millennia of carbon capture and put further strain on the surrounding ecosystems. But when we restore them, layer by layer, from the understory to the canopy, we can heal the landscape. 

We have multiple revegetation projects underway, such as our partnership with Greening Australia which will see 600 hectares of biodiverse habitat restored at Ediegarrup Reserve on Goreng Noongar Country (in south-west WA). Together we're planting 150 species of native trees and shrubs that will provide habitat for threatened species such as Ngoolark (Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo) and Gnow (Malleefowl).  

And at Eurardy Reserve, on Nanda Country in mid-west WA, we're working with Carbon Positive Australia on a large restoration project. On completion we'll have returned a York Gum woodland and kwongan heath to the area and offset at least 90,000 tonnes of carbon. This is the equivalent to taking more than 21,000 cars off the road each year!

Building resilience through innovation 

With the increased pressures from climate change, we're finding the need to intervene at times to prevent biodiversity decline. In collaboration with research institutes and other conservation organisations, we keep abreast of scientific developments and are able to trial new methods when necessary. 

For example, when the Grey Box and Yellow Box woodlands at Nardoo Hills on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in central Victoria experienced mass dieback in response to hotter, drier conditions, we knew we needed to step in. We're running a climate-ready restoration trial with our project partner Greenfleet, which involved introducing seedlings of the same species that have already adapted to the climate projected for Nardoo Hills in 70 years' time, when the trees reach maturity. 

Reducing our carbon footprint 

Bush Heritage sequesters more carbon than it emits, but we know that every action counts in our race to slow climate change. We're consistently reducing our emissions with a focus on minimising travel, vehicles, fuel use, and phasing out printing. We invest in renewable energies from solar and wind for the properties on our reserves and have progressively been updating all infrastructure to maximise energy efficiency.