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Managing wetlands on your property - Healthy Wetland Habitats
What is Healthy Wetland Habitats?Healthy Wetland Habitats is a voluntary program giving technical and financial support to landholders who care for wetlands. The program is an initiative of the Western Australian Government and administered by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). The focus of Healthy Wetland Habitats is to help landholders develop a wetland management plan to protect and care for their wetlands. The purpose of the management plan is to identify priority management actions, such as fencing and weed control, which will ensure the wetland's values are maintained and enhanced for future generations. Once a management plan is prepared, landholders can access funding of up to $10,000 to carry out priority management actions identified in the management plan. If there is an existing management plan, landholders may also be eligible for funding assistance. Who can apply?Any private landholder whose property contains a wetland on the Swan Coastal Plain that has conservation value, and who would like to better manage his or her wetland to ensure its long-term conservation, can apply.
Photo taken by WWF/C. Mykytiuk. How does Healthy Wetland Habitats work?To become involved in Healthy Wetland Habitats, please submit an Expression of Interest form. This can be found on the How do I apply? web page.
Applications will be assessed each month and priority given to wetlands with a high conservation value. Next, you will be contacted by a field officer who will visit your property to gather the necessary information for the management plan. All data is confidential and it will not be made available to a third party without your permission. The wetland management plan will then be developed in consultation with you. A one-year funding agreement for selected management actions will be part of your wetland management plan. A technical advisory committee with representatives from the DEC and WWF Australia has been established to provide advice on technical aspects of management plans and to assess funding applications. Pre-existing management plans may also be endorsed by the committee. Your property might be in an area where there is existing wetland management assistance and incentive funding. If so, the Healthy Wetland Habitats coordinator may direct you to the coordinator of these programs first. Is there funding available?
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