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It takes a community to restore a community Solving the puzzle of banded ironstone plants Dr Carole Elliott Research Scientist Dr Peter Golos Research Scientist Ben Miller, Davide Abate and Lucy Commander conduct a vegetation survey of BIF vegetation community. Photo: Luis Merino-Martín
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n the Mid-West of Western Australia Kings Park Science is working hard to restore unique threatened ecological communities which exist only on banded ironstone ranges. These iron-loving plants have specific requirements and, not surprisingly, their own plan of how to survive in this often dry and hot location. Figuring out what they require or what their plan is
for persisting in the environment generates a mélange of puzzles. Solving these unique puzzles enables us to restore these communities successfully, but unlike a crossword or Sudoku, no answers are provided at the back of the book! This is where many brilliant minds came together to work on restoration solutions. Figuring out how plants can be established in altered
environments needs the dedication and passion of many different people from a variety of backgrounds – our restoration community. It is the expertise of scientists, restoration practitioners, industry partners, land managers, university researchers, students and volunteers that drive the achievement of restoration goals. The banded ironstone restoration project’s primary partners were Sinosteel Midwest Corporation, the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority and The University of Western Australia. There was also collaboration with the seed collection industry, horticulturalists, environmental consultants, State Government departments and other universities. With these partners we were able to tackle the challenges of restoring this threatened plant community in an exceptional habitat in Western Australia’s arid interior. This project has moved plant community restoration forward substantially demonstrating the successful integration of scientific theory, restoration practice and policy regulation.
Anthea Challis, Arielle Fontaine and Rachel Ord prepare to plant tube stock, sow seed and install an irrigation system at the experimental site at Koolanooka. Photo: Peter Golos
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For People & Plants | Special Issue | Spring 2021
