LandLife SouthWest

Southwest Victoria has little left of the extensive forests, native grasslands and biodiversity which existed before European settlement. This has dramatically decreased the ecosystem services that our environment and economy relies on. These services include natural pest control, carbon storage and water and air purification.

The map of southwest Victoria shows large forested areas remain in the Otway Ranges to the east, and national parks such as Cobboboonee in the west and Budj Bim and Gariwerd to the north. However in the Warrnambool and Moyne region only remnants remain of once widespread forested areas and volcanic plains grasslands.

There are some small fragmented natural habitats scattered across the region – such as the Mepunga Coastal Reserve, Belfast Coastal Reserve and Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve – but to our local flora and fauna these are islands where diminishing populations and genetic diversity are signs of future extinction.

We are a food and fibre producing region but that does not mean we can’t also have a healthy and thriving natural environment. Native shelterbelts on farms protect stock and pastures and also provide habitat and sequester carbon. Protected waterways, wetlands, springs and soaks ensure higher quality water and a safe home for platypus, rakali, native fish and more. Multi species pastures provide higher levels of nutrition for stock, increased water and carbon storage and increased biodiversity than monocultural pastures.

There is an urgent need to restore the habitats and ecosystems that endangered, vulnerable or threatened species rely upon, as we, too, rely on the same ecosystems.

LandLife SouthWest is our long term vision and project to repair our region for biodiversity and a sustainable agricultural economy.