I stood at the fence line at Red Moort Reserve on Goreng-Noongar Country in south-west Western Australia. To my right, a thick forest of hakea, banksia, moort, mallet and many more plant species reached the horizon. To the left, the gold of denuded hills rolled on.

I was lucky enough to attend a reserve visit with the Board before taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer of Bush Heritage Australia. I had to pinch myself at the visual juxtaposition and felt deeply grateful to have joined an organisation that literally brings life back to landscapes – even in places where almost all biodiversity had been lost. Here, in the past few years, our field staff and scientists have warmly welcomed many threatened species back to our reserves, including the Gnow (Malleefowl), Ngoolark (Carnaby’s Cockatoo) and Chuditch (Western Quoll).

In a heavily cleared region, we and nature are being rewarded for our high-integrity restoration efforts and the strategic reconnection of what’s left.

I came away incredibly proud and excited about the opportunities that await biodiversity at our existing and newly acquired reserves. These opportunities, I recognise, are only made possible through the incredible generosity of our supporters. For that and from all the staff at Bush Heritage – thank you. The vital achievements for nature that you will read about in this year’s report are your wins to celebrate.

Throughout 2023-24, and in line with the goals of our 2030 Strategy, we proved our ability to grow while delivering deep impact. This year, we celebrated the reconnection of two diverse landscapes through our acquisition of Evelyn Downs in the South Australian Arid Rangelands and Sanstrom in Victoria’s Kara-Kara Wedderburn region. For many native plant and animal species, these are timely security measures that will provide more space for them to move and thrive.

We have continued to witness the devastating impacts of climate change on our communities and the natural world across the globe. Our work to protect and build resilience into ecosystems could not be more urgent, and it cannot be done alone. As we look to strengthen biodiversity in our Priority Landscapes and diversify our income streams, we're forging connections with landholders and farmers beyond our reserves’ boundaries.

This year, I'm most proud of the relationship-building we've achieved, and learning more about the growing desire those who manage productive landscapes have for our work.

In 2023-24, we continued to deepen our commitment to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners and right-way land management. We listened, learnt from and shared knowledge with our partners, and found innovative ways for Traditional land management practices and Western science to meet.

We have invested in staff across the country so that our Aboriginal Partnerships Managers now cover a broader reach. This means our people can connect more deeply with Traditional Custodians and better support shared aspirations for helping heal Country.

This year, thanks to our supporters who shared in our vision to protect Evelyn Downs Reserve, we exceeded our financial targets, leaving us in a robust financial position for 2024-25. At 235,000 hectares, it is our largest reserve, and it was the largest fundraising campaign in our history. The support we generated covers the cost of the acquisition and the first year of our ongoing management. It gives Evelyn Downs a strong start while building confidence that as we grow our reserve network, we can still maintain the depth of impact across the ecological values we’ve already committed to protecting.

As we look to the year ahead, I think back to the view at Red Moort, and I'm reminded of the optimism and impact we can deliver together. Thank you for allowing us to meet the environmental challenges of today and tomorrow – with hope and ambition.

Kind regards,

Rachel Lowry signature