SPOTLIGHT ON PILBARA
The WA Landcare Network (WALN) recently hosted its 2024 WA Landcare Awards to recognise environmental champions across the state. This year, the award for legendary coastcare efforts went to Care for Hedland, with specific recognition of their long-running community-based turtle monitoring program. The program, established in 2004, provides a much-needed awareness and conservation of the local threatened Flatback sea turtle species Natator depressus.
The presence of Flatback turtles in Hedland gives a unique opportunity for the community and visitors to the area to be actively involved in contributing to the monitoring of the protected species.
Flatback sea turtles nest only on Australian beaches and have the shortest migratory range of all sea turtles. There is currently limited population data available on the species, highlighting the importance of the Care for Hedland turtle monitoring program. The program is a part of a wider turtle monitoring project encompassing nesting rookeries from Shark Bay to the Kimberley.
To learn more about this and many other awesome initiatives from our friends at Care for Hedland, register for WACMN’s Coastal and Marine Stewardship forum on October 18 2024, where the wonderful Kelly Howlett, Chairperson, Care for Hedland Environmental Association, will be joining us to share her wealth of experience.
Story by Ailbhe Travers.
Photos supplied by Care for Hedland.