Western Australia has changed greatly since the arrival of Europeans. An unbroken expanse of bushland has been replaced with a mosaic of farmland, towns, industries, roads and railways, with remnants of native vegetation left among them in various shapes and sizes.

These remnants hold the key to the local survival of many wildlife species.

Wildlife habitat on private land can:

• Contribute to the long-term survival of native plants and animals
• Play a major role in sustainable agriculture. For example, remnant vegetation may:
• Help control wind and water erosion
• Assist in the management of salinity
• Provide shade and shelter
• Help in maintaining natural means of controlling pests
• Provide stepping stones or corridors to link the landscape into a network that allows wildlife movement and genetic exchange between other bushland remnants or conservation reserves

The Land for Wildlife program can help you to create a healthy ecosystem on your property and move towards sustainable land use. A range of primary land uses can accommodate Land for Wildlife areas, including farms, local council reserves, suitable residential or weekender blocks and whole bush blocks. Land for Wildlife fits in with many landcare activities including protecting a wetland or granite outcrop, creating a shelter belt, rehabilitating saltland or even alley farming.

If you have bought a property with a Land for Wildlife sign you can choose to continue that registration. Please register and mention the existing sign.

Size criteria for new registrations

• >1 hectare: We generally support and register properties with one or more hectares of largely intact native vegetation.
• 0.5-1 hectare: Properties with between 0.5-1 hectares of vegetation may be considered if conservation values are high and landholders are keen to actively manage or extend their bushland.
• <0.5 hectare: We don’t register properties with less than half a hectare of bushland as Land for Wildlife.

Will Land for Wildlife help me revegetate my land?

We are unable to assist with the extremely detailed support required to establish new areas of healthy vegetation on properties with little or no existing remnant vegetation. However, available resources include: 

• In regional areas, Natural Resource Management groups including landcare and catchment groups that exist in your area may be able to provide advice and sometimes have funding available that can assist.
• In urban and peri-urban areas, Perth NRM's website ReWild Perth provides information targeted to properties in and around Perth and into the Peel region.

Wildflower Society of WA’s list of WA Native plant nurseries. Specialist native plant revegetation nurseries can often assist with species selection and planting advice for your situation. 

You can help conserve wildlife, and at the same time protect the production values of your land, by managing bush remnants for conservation.

For more information and to register for the Land for Wildlife program, contact:

Land for Wildlife Coordinator
Species and Communities Program
Locked Bag 104
Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983
Phone: (08) 9219 9527
Email: lfw@dbca.wa.gov.au