The Great Western Woodlands
Old growth woodlands, south of Norseman.
Drive a few hours north of Esperance and you will encounter what is undoubtedly one the of the world’s greatest treasures – the Great Western Woodlands, the largest intact temperate woodland on earth. Extending across 16 million hectares, an area twice the size of the whole of Tasmania, the woodlands are fringed by the Nullabor Plain to the east and the wheatbelt to the west. Over 30% of all Australia’s eucalypt species can be found here, more 20% of all Australia’s native plants and 18% of bird species. Over 300 million years, the flora and fauna, many of which are unique to the area, have evolved together to create the incredibly complex and delicately balanced ecosystems that are found in the Woodlands today.
The Great Western Woodlands. Image courtesy of http://greatwesternwoodlands.com.
It is one of the world’s last biodiversity hotspots, and it’s right in our backyard. For 22 000 years, they have been home to our local indigenous groups. They were a part of the landscape that shaped our more recent settlers, pastoralists and miners alike. For some of us who live and work in the Goldfields region, they are a source of endless delight for camping trips and hikes.
Esperance Honey has been working in sites all across the woodlands for many years. Some of the most distinctive honeys that we have produced has come from their richly biodiverse floral resources. These honeys are particularly special because the trees are so old and well-adapted to the environment that they’re growing in – they are a pure expression of a living ecosystem. The Great Western Woodlands are an important and unique component of our bio-cultural heritage.
However, the woodlands have no conservation status – and is at risk as a result. Birds are often used as a baseline indicator of ecosystem health. When bird species suffer, every other species in an ecosystem tends to be suffering as well. Since 2011, scientists and volunteers have been recording data on bird species in the woodlands and are finding that keeping the woodlands intact and unfragmented is crucial to bird species’ survival.
Wildfires are increasing in both intensity and frequency, putting the whole ecosystem at risk. Many of the species in the woodlands need long periods between burns in order to reach maturity and reproduce. The intensity of these fires also makes it difficult for many of these species to fully recover. Weeds are also placing ecosystems under stress and altering fire behaviour, while poor infrastructure planning and fire management regimes are leading to habitat fragmentation.
The endemic Eucalyptus torquata.
The loss of the woodlands, and their fully functioning diversity, would be catastrophic to our culture, our economy and the environment. It’s estimated that approximately 900 million tons of carbon are stored within the woodlands as biomass. This acts as a relatively stable carbon sink, which is continually exploited and renewed through ecosystem processes. The disturbance of the woodlands represents a disturbance to the processes that keep this carbon intact, with disastrous outcomes.
The woodlands may also play a role in determining our rainfall patterns. Studies are now showing the important role that trees play in creating precipitation. Data demonstrates that rainfall patterns in WA’s south-west appear to be heavily influenced by the woodlands, the loss of which has implications for agriculture and our regional communities.
In addition, as our regional tourism industry develops, they are becoming a major attraction for visitors.
For us at Esperance Honey, it’s not just that they are source for the floral resources that our bees use: it’s that they are an inherent part of our business. The Great Western Woodlands are an integral part of the story that we tell about our region.
Over the coming years, it is our dream to see the woodlands protected and enhanced through appropriate, science-backed management processes. The honey that we and others produce from the region is just the start of the conversation that we need to have about the woodlands. We’re committed to continuing to be a part of that process. With your help and support, we’re confident that we can continue to play a role in sustaining this important natural resource.
Kev & the Esperance Honey team