LANDSCOPE Magazine

Stories of the triumphs of science and the wonder of Western Australia's natural places, told by those on the ground and celebrated with visually stunning photography.

On the cover

From the desk of Aminya Ennis

Contributing

LANDSCOPE Magazine

Reader's pic • Jackson’s sun orchid (Thelymitra jacksonii)

Heritage etched in time on a coin

Bunuba declared a national park

Riverwise gardening

Aboriginal Ranger Program Round 6 recipients announced

Guest column

Walpole-Nornalup National Park • Walpole–Nornalup National Park is 430 kilometres south of Perth, surrounding the town of Walpole on Western Australia’s south coast. An iconic area in the Walpole Wilderness, it is renowned for its forest of rare red tingle trees, known as the Valley of the Giants. These ‘giants’, the most massive of all eucalypts and unique to the Walpole area, can be seen from the breathtaking heights of the Tree Top Walk.

Bushwalking in Walpole-Nornalup National Park

The people of the Bibbulmun Track • As the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of Western Australia’s famed long-distance walk trail, the Bibbulmun Track, come to an end, volunteer Jim Baker ponders what motivates people to walk for weeks through the bush, what attracts people from all over the world, and who are the people who were instrumental in creating, developing and maintaining the beloved track.

Commemorative walk on the Bibbulmun Track • Bushwalking novice and eternal optimist Ivy James tried her hand at walking nearly 70 kilometres from Brookton Highway to North Bannister along the Bibbulmun Track as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations. With minimal training and an open mind, Ivy embraced the experience and was enveloped by the track and the warmth of her fellow walkers.

Toad tracking technology • Environmental DNA is a new innovative technology being used to trace invasive cane toads in the Kimberley environment. Several Aboriginal ranger groups have been trained in the new sampling method and are detecting toads in previously undiscovered areas, including an offshore island.

A match(stick) made in heaven • Looking remarkably like matchsticks are the eye-catching flowers of Banksia cuneata or the matchstick banksia. Concern was raised about the decline of matchstick banksia in the early 1980s and since being listed as threatened, a large amount of work has been undertaken by the species’ recovery team.

Discovering collections

Making tracks in warming waters • Australian southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) feed across the Southern Ocean, which is vast and changing due to climate change. Researchers are addressing the question of how a changing climate affects the whales but first have to find out where exactly the whales are migrating.

Adventuring Dwellingup • Over the past three years the Dwellingup area has been developed as a world-class trail destination within a unique forested natural environment and a stunning river valley.

Kookaburra kookaburra card game

Best walks of the South West WA: From Dwellingup to Windy Harbour

iNaturatliste

Saving the southwestern snake-necked turtle • Murdoch University researchers, hundreds of ‘Turtle Tracking’ citizen scientists, local councils, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and many other partners have joined forces to play a crucial role in helping to protect the southwestern snake-necked turtle from becoming endangered.

Take 4 for the shore • Rubbish around the river can have a big impact on our wildlife. Birds can mistake small pieces of plastic as food and get sick from eating them. Animals, especially waterbirds and dolphins, can get entangled in fishing line and hooks that wrap around their body.

Matchstick banksia...