Model partnership restoring banksia woodland

Dr Jason Stevens (Research Scientist), Dr Alison Ritchie (Research Scientist)

In 1995, Hanson Heidelberg Cement Group (formerly Rocla Quarry Products) approached the Kings Park Science Directorate with the ambitious plan of returning mined sites to an ecosystem closely resembling the species composition of naturally occurring banksia woodland.

Hanson’s aim was to develop international leading practice for the integrated restoration of previously mined sites. Such an approach had not been attempted for an ecosystem in a biodiversity hotspot.

The target - to restore a functioning banksia woodland after disturbance. Photo: Carole Elliott

Over the past 26 years Kings Park Science has been working in a mutually driven partnership with Hanson to tackle the complex restoration and conservation needs of banksia woodland communities. By linking Kings Park’s scientific research programs to Hanson’s restoration projects after sand extraction activities, the partnership has successfully achieved much-needed restoration on a large scale.

The on-ground restoration outcomes have been extremely successful, with the sites now boasting some of the highest levels of species and plant reinstatement per unit area of post-mined restoration in the resources sector, matching that of natural bushland systems. The restoration research is focused on learning from what site treatments promote the best outcomes, using innovative approaches to deliver seed and novel ways of understanding plant function in restoration through remote sensing.

Large scale banksia woodland restoration post-mining at Hanson’s Perth operations. Photo: Lauren Svejcar

Species rich banksia woodland restoration (two years old) with Banksia menziesii, front right, finally old enough to flower. Photo: Lauren Svejcar

This knowledge will continue to inform restoration of other land-use systems, including managing fragmented banksia woodland systems such as those found in Kings Park and Bold Park.

Restoration excellence at Hanson sites can be used to promote leading practice in the resources and restoration sector which has been an important outcome from this partnership.

Extending knowledge to national and international audiences has taken several forms applicable to The Decade ahead including:

• Sponsorships of more than six national/international restoration conferences.

• Promoting the restoration journey as a case study for publication in an international technical series of papers to coincide with the 13 th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Mexico.

• Promoting restoration outcomes in the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Rehabilitation Showcase.

• Undertaking educational tours by Hanson and Kings Park to allow students and the public to learn about the importance of banksia woodland ecology, conservation and restoration.

Installing experimental restoration plots at Hanson mine site to test seed enhancement technologies of Jacksonia species for improved establishment rates. Photo: Alison Ritchie

The research partnership has shown that the restoration of fragile, complex and biodiverse ecosystems within a global biodiversity hotspot is possible through dedicated, long-term restoration research excellence and leadership.

Ongoing engagement between restoration scientists and students with Hanson’s senior managers and operational staff has led to the application of research outcomes into restoration operations and a cycle of continuous restoration improvement has evolved.

This relationship and its world-class restoration and extension outcomes are what we can build on in The Decade ahead.

The Golden Gecko award-winning restoration at Gaskell (background) with Hanson staff Zoe Keller, Bruce Hardy and Vern Newton (2018). Photo: Alison Ritchie

The stats

1 Threatened Ecological Community

2 Golden Gecko awards

100 native plants per five square metres after two years

140 species with developed germination approaches

8+ Post-Doctoral researchers engaged

25+ higher degree research students

6+ collaborative national research grants

Practitioner guide "Banksia woodlands – a guide to their restoration on the Swan Coastal Plain"