Message from our CEO

Resilience and adaptability

In this same message last year, I wrote of resilience – that of nature, in the aftermath of the 2020 bushfires, and that of our people who continued to do their all to protect the bush in the midst of a global pandemic. I never imagined then that their resilience would need to endure through another year, yet here we are.

Resilience and adaptability are two words that have arisen time and again over the past 12 months as we at Bush Heritage have deliberated on where we would like to be, and what we would like to have achieved, by the year 2030.

The result of those deliberations is our 2030 Strategic Plan. With an overarching goal to deepen and double our impact across more than 30 million hectares of Australia by 2030, it is our most ambitious strategic plan to date.

But I am confident it can be achieved – indeed, the stories in our 2022 Impact Report demonstrate that we are already well on our way.

The growth towards our 2030 goal will occur over three focus areas:

1. on our privately-owned and managed reserves,
2. through collaborations with First Nations people and organisations, and
3. across productive, agricultural lands.

Our priority landscapes framework will guide where this growth occurs; last year we updated this framework to include an overlay of expected climate change impacts. This research detailed not just what level of change is likely to occur in each landscape, but also what strategies will best prepare each landscape for the threats to come.

One common thread winds through all: increasing the size and connectivity of protected areas is key to saving native species and the habitats they call home.

Each of the five new reserves that Bush Heritage purchased during the 2021-2022 financial year contributes to a vital, connected corridor of remnant bushland. Take for example, Ediegarrup, a 1067-hectare reserve in south-west Western Australia. This acquisition connects Bush Heritage’s Red Moort Reserve with Chingarrup Sanctuary, and creates a connected corridor of habitat that will allow Malleefowl, Tammar and Black-gloved wallabies, Carnaby’s Black-cockatoos and many others to move and adapt to climatic changes.

A huge thank you is due to those who make our work possible – to our passionate staff, dedicated volunteers, our Board and our amazing financial and in-kind supporters.

As we embed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and in the face of the threats of climate change, increased bushfires, feral animals and weeds, we need your continued ongoing support.

This year Bush Heritage was honoured to receive transformational gifts from two estates that will be used to deliver our 2030 Strategy to deepen and double our impact. I look forward to reporting how we have used these funds and the impact we have all made when I write this message again next year.

Kind regards,

Heather Campbell, Chief Executive Officer.