brookton_saltland_planting

Ballardong Noongar Country

Brookton Saltland, WA

Located in the WA Wheatbelt, this planting site is part of a larger property owned by a local farming family. Due to the clearing of native vegetation and grazing of stock over many generations, much of the land in this region is affected by salinity and erosion. The landholders are particularly concerned with the rising water table and salinization of adjacent cropping land. 

We are working with Dr Peter Ritson from FarmWoods to restore this area using a specifically designed mix of salt-tolerant native species including Atriplex (‘Salt bush’), Melaleuca, Eucalyptus, and Casuarina species.

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PLANTED
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Seedlings Planted
Species
Planted

Project overview

  • Planting type: Saltland Carbon
  • Region: Wheatbelt, WA
  • Planted: 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022
  • Size: 28.5 hectares
  • Seedling count: 38,341
  • Supported by: State Natural Resource Management Program
  • Partner: FarmWoods, Noongar Budjar Rangers (Wheatbelt NRM)
  • ERF registered: No
  • Legal permanence: 30 years

Latest news

Woman putting a seedling into a hand held tree planting device

Infill Planting

July 2022

Further infill planting was carried out in winter by the Noongar Budjar Ranges and members of the CPOZ team. Approximately 4,000 seedlings were hand-planted across the 2021 area to increase the density in patches that had suffered from waterlogging. We will return to the site later this year for the annual monitoring assessment.

Plants growing in planting rows

monitoring

April 2022

Dr Peter Ritson and the CPOZ team headed to the site in April to complete a third monitoring assessment. Results showed that the average density had increased by 28% from 2021, at 688 trees/ha. The tallest seedlings (Acacia acuminate, Cauarina obesa, and Eucalyptus loxophleba equally) were 1.2 metres.

Close up of a Eucalyptus seedling planted in a mound

Survival monitoring

October 2021

Survival monitoring of the most recent planting area (8.5ha) was conducted by the CPOZ team in October 2021. The overall survival rate was approximately 65%. There had been significant rainfall in the area and the team noted visible signs of water pooling across the site. Survival rates in these areas of the planting was very low leading to a further 3,900 seedlings ordered for infill in the patchy areas.

Group of ten people standing in a paddock holding buckets full of native seedlings and pottiputki planting devices

Planting

July 2021

Team members Jess and Alice headed to site to accept the infill seedling delivery. Along with Dr Peter Ritson, who oversaw the planting, Jess, Alice, and the Noongar Budjar Ranges planted a further 8.5 hectares of the Saltland area. A total of 15,552 seedlings were hand-planted across this new area and infilled across the 2019 and 2020 areas to increase density.

Man bending down with a measuring stick measuring the height of a seedling with a woman standing next to the man recording the data on a clipboard.

Monitoring

April 2021

Jess and Alice (CPOZ) joined Dr Peter Ritson on site to monitor the progress of the 2019 and 2020 planting areas. Evidence of pest damage (likely kangaroos) was noted and some areas showed patchy survival and health. Further infill was recommended for the coming winter. Of all species, Atriplex semibaccata (‘Berry saltbush’) exhibited the highest survival and growth rates.

Lady in orange high-vis and man with black jumper and hat holding seedlings about to be planted.

Infill planting

July 2020

During winter, approximately 6,500 seedlings were planted across the site. These new seedlings replaced those that had not survived the harsh conditions since the initial planting. Casuarina and Atriplex species formed the bulk of the planting mix as they had shown the highest survival and growth during the last monitoring assessment.

Man and a woman standing in a field looking at a notepad.

Monitoring

May 2020

Dr Peter Ritson visited the site for a comprehensive monitoring assessment to determine seedling survival and growth. Overall, survival was estimated to be around 41%, with the lower salt-tolerant species struggling the most. Unfortunately, given the below average rainfall since the time of planting, this level of mortality did not come as a surprise. Infill planting was recommended for the coming winter.

Girl wearing a white tee and flannel shirt standing in a paddock holding a clipboard and taking notes

survival monitoring

November 2019

Survival monitoring was undertaken for the initial 13,000 seedlings planted in July. Results showed survival rates ranging from 54% to 80% across the area, with an overall average of 69%. Many of the seedlings showed signs of drought stress and substantial mortality was predicted for the coming summer months. Close monitoring would be necessary and the need for infill in July was advised.

Three men standing together and smiling with seedlings buckets.

planting

July 2019

Under the expert guidance of Dr Peter Ritson (FarmWoods), the Noongar Budjar Rangers and other Wheatbelt NRM team members planted around 13,000 seedlings across the 12 hectare site. Seedlings were planted into the mounds using pottiputkis (an ergonomic tree-planting device). These handy tools make fast and comfortable work of a planting area.

Three men standing next to 2 cars in the planting area ready for site preparation.

site preparation

July 2019

Winter came around and the Wheatbelt NRM Noongar Budjar Rangers were engaged to assist with site preparation. The site was sprayed to control perennial weeds and mounded into rows. This practice reduces root system exposure to salinity and water logging as well as minimising competition to weeds, improving the likelihood of seedling survival and establishment.

Close up of seedling trays with juvenile Melaleuca and Acacia species

Species selection & orders

December 2018

As suggested, species selection incorporated a range of salt-tolerant species including Atriplex semibaccata (‘Berry saltbush’), Casuarina obesa (‘Swamp sheoak’), and Melaleuca cuticularis (‘Saltwater paperbark’). Seedlings were ordered and grown out at Parnell’s Nursery over the summer and autumn months, ready for planting in the following winter.

site assessment

November 2018

The project kicked off with an initial site assessment conducted by leading WA reforestation expert, Dr Geoff Woodall. Much of the planting area that had been selected for restoration by the landholders was visibly salt-affected. With the looming issue of saline soils and waterlogging, the assessment included recommendations for planting methodology, species selection, and ongoing site management.

What we planted

Acacia Illustration

Acacia

1 species
sandalwood host
short lifespan
nitrogen fixing​

Illustration of an Allocasuarina

Atriplex

1 species
low-lying shrub
salt-tolerant
drought tolerant

Casuarina illustration

Casuarina

1 species
salt and drought tolerant
attracts native birds
nitrogen converter

Eucalyptus Illustration

Eucalyptus

1 species
high survivability in nutrient-poor soils
fast maturing tree
utilised for canopy cover

Melaleuca Illustration

Melaleuca

5 species
fire-adapted
salt-tolerant
tree

Project gallery

dry weeds in a field
One of the proposed saltland planting areas.
salt deposits and weeds in a proposed planting area
Visible salt deposits on part of the proposed planting area.
Three men standing next to 2 cars in the planting area ready for site preparation.
Wheatbelt NRM Noongar Budjar Rangers Brad, Darryl and Tom conducting weed control at the saltland site.
close up of seedlings in a tray
Seedlings ready for planting.
Eight people using hand-held mechanical planting devices to plant seedlings in a mounded paddock
Wheatbelt NRM staff assisting with planting at the Brookton Saltland site
Group photo of 19 people with seedlings buckets standing in a cleared area
Wheatbelt NRM staff, Noongar Budjar Rangers and Dr Peter Ritson on planting day.
close up of pottiputkis (manual tree planting tools)
Pottiputkis (manual tree planting tools) used to plant the Brookton site.
Man and a woman standing in a field during tree planting event. Woman wearing a bright blue jacket holding a pottiputki (hand-held tree planting device). Man wearing a black sweater holding a bucket full of seedlings.
Wheatbelt NRM staff planting seedlings at the Brookton Saltland site.
close up of seedling trays in a truck
Trays of Eucalyptus and Melaleuca seedlings on the truck ready to be unloaded.
Lady in orange high-vis and man with black jumper and hat holding seedlings about to be planted.
Unloading the seedlings from the delivery truck.
Man and a woman holding a tray of seedlings in a field
Jess (CPOZ) and Dr Peter Ritson unloading the seedlings delivered by Parnell’s Nursery.
Trays of native Australian seedlings with white delivery truck and people in the background
The team having a quick lunch break after unloading the truck.
Trays of native Australian seedlings on the ground
A patchwork of seedlings ready to be planted.
people loading up their planting buckets with seedlings ready to start planting
The Noongar Budjar Rangers getting ready to start planting.
planting area with puddles of water between planting rows and people planting in the background
The planting team getting started.
Man wearing a broad brimmed hat clearing dirt away from a white numbered marker in a weedy paddock
Dr Peter Ritson clearing the area around one of the plot markers.
hand holding a seedling ready to drop into a pottiputki to be planted
A Casuarina obesa (‘Swamp sheoak’) seedlings being planted using a pottiputki device.
A thriving Melaleuca thyoides ('Salt lake honey-myrtle')
A thriving Melaleuca thyoides (‘Salt lake honey-myrtle’) approximately one year post-planting.
man bending down to measure the height of a plant with a measuring stick and a woman standing next to him holding a clipboard
Alice (CPOZ) and Dr Peter Ritson monitoring the 2020 planting area.
bird eyes drone image of mounded planting rows
Drone shot of the team monitoring the 2020 planting area.
woman bending down to measure the height of a plant with a man assisting with holding the measruing stick
Jess (CPOZ) measuring the height of a Melaleuca planted in 2019.
Close up of a green bush with small red fruit (Australian saltbush)
A thriving Atriplex semibaccata (‘Berry saltbush’).
Sandy paddock with sparse vegetation and signs of water erosion
Low lying portion of the 2021 planting area that was subjected to water logging. Salt crystals visible on the surface.
Close up of a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark') seedling in planting row
A Melaleuca cuticularis (‘Saltwater paperbark’) seedling in the 2021 planting area. Photo taken approx. 3 months post-planting.
Lady wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a broad brimmed hat squatting down in a weedy field to monitor a carbon project.
Heavy weed coverage across part of the 2021 planting area. These weeds are expected to perish over the summer months.
Group of ten people standing in a paddock holding buckets full of native seedlings and pottiputki planting devices
The 2021 planting team.
person standing behind a plant - Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark')
Monitoring a Melaleuca cuticularis (‘Saltwater paperbark’).
person standing next to a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark') plant and measuring its height with a measuring stick
Measuring the height of a Melaleuca lateriflora (‘Gorada’) shrub.
2 people walking across a planting site
Late afternoon at the saltland site.
close up of a Melaleuca brophyi plant
Healthy Melaleuca brophyi.
Planting rows of Melaleuca and Eucalyptus species.
Planting rows of Melaleuca and Eucalyptus species.
Eucalyptus loxophleba ('York gum')
Healthy Eucalyptus loxophleba (‘York gum’).
Woman standing next to a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark') growing in a planting row
Ches (CPOZ) next to an impressive Melaleuca cuticularis (‘Saltwater paperbark’).
Man with his hand up directing a women holding a rope across a paddock with dry weeds
Dr Peter Ritson and Ebony (CPOZ) setting up a monitoring plot.
Woman looking at a Casuarina obesa ('Swamp sheoak') plant in planting row
Ches (CPOZ) with a thriving Casuarina obesa (‘Swamp sheoak’).
Man filling up his bucket with seedlings from the back of a ute tray
Mainey (Noongar Budjar Rangers) filling up his bucket with seedlings.
Woman posing with a bucket full of seedlings and a pottiputki
Ebony (CPOZ) ready to begin planting.
woman admiring a Eucalytpus tree in planting row
Catherine (CPOZ) admiring a thriving Eucalytpus seedling that was planted just a year prior.
Woman holding a bucket of seedlings with another woman planting trees in the background
Jess and Ebony (CPOZ) planting some of the 4,000+ salt tolerant seedlings.
seedlings tray on the group with a pottiputki
Some of the 4,000+ seedlings ready for planting.
Mid shot of a man smiling with a bucket of seedlings
Jeremy (Noongar Budjar Rangers) planting seedlings.
measuring the diameter at breast height of a Melaleuca cuticularis
Measuring the DBH (diameter at breast height) of a Melaleuca cuticularis.
Close up of the side of a flowering Melaleuca lateriflora
Flowering Melaleuca lateriflora (‘Gorada’).
Women measuring the height of a Casuarina obesa ('Swamp sheoak').
Jess (CPOZ) measuring the height of a Casuarina obesa (‘Swamp sheoak’).
Close up of a Melaleuca atroviridis growing fruit.
Fruiting Melaleuca atroviridis.
Person measuring out a plot with a tape measure.
Jess (CPOZ) measuring out a monitoring plot.
Flowering Melaleuca brophyi
Flowering Melaleuca brophyi.
Woman standing with measuring stick next to a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark').
Jess (CPOZ) measuring the height of a Melaleuca cuticularis (‘Saltwater paperbark’).
Measuring the height of a Melaleuca brophyi ('Saltwater paperbark').
Measuring the height of a Melaleuca brophyi (‘Saltwater paperbark’) during 2023 monitoring.
dry weeds in a field
One of the proposed saltland planting areas.
salt deposits and weeds in a proposed planting area
Visible salt deposits on part of the proposed planting area.
Three men standing next to 2 cars in the planting area ready for site preparation.
Wheatbelt NRM Noongar Budjar Rangers Brad, Darryl and Tom conducting weed control at the saltland site.
close up of seedlings in a tray
Seedlings ready for planting.
Eight people using hand-held mechanical planting devices to plant seedlings in a mounded paddock
Wheatbelt NRM staff assisting with planting at the Brookton Saltland site
Group photo of 19 people with seedlings buckets standing in a cleared area
Wheatbelt NRM staff, Noongar Budjar Rangers and Dr Peter Ritson on planting day.
close up of pottiputkis (manual tree planting tools)
Pottiputkis (manual tree planting tools) used to plant the Brookton site.
Man and a woman standing in a field during tree planting event. Woman wearing a bright blue jacket holding a pottiputki (hand-held tree planting device). Man wearing a black sweater holding a bucket full of seedlings.
Wheatbelt NRM staff planting seedlings at the Brookton Saltland site.
close up of seedling trays in a truck
Trays of Eucalyptus and Melaleuca seedlings on the truck ready to be unloaded.
Lady in orange high-vis and man with black jumper and hat holding seedlings about to be planted.
Unloading the seedlings from the delivery truck.
Man and a woman holding a tray of seedlings in a field
Jess (CPOZ) and Dr Peter Ritson unloading the seedlings delivered by Parnell’s Nursery.
Trays of native Australian seedlings with white delivery truck and people in the background
The team having a quick lunch break after unloading the truck.
Trays of native Australian seedlings on the ground
A patchwork of seedlings ready to be planted.
people loading up their planting buckets with seedlings ready to start planting
The Noongar Budjar Rangers getting ready to start planting.
planting area with puddles of water between planting rows and people planting in the background
The planting team getting started.
Man wearing a broad brimmed hat clearing dirt away from a white numbered marker in a weedy paddock
Dr Peter Ritson clearing the area around one of the plot markers.
hand holding a seedling ready to drop into a pottiputki to be planted
A Casuarina obesa (‘Swamp sheoak’) seedlings being planted using a pottiputki device.
A thriving Melaleuca thyoides ('Salt lake honey-myrtle')
A thriving Melaleuca thyoides (‘Salt lake honey-myrtle’) approximately one year post-planting.
man bending down to measure the height of a plant with a measuring stick and a woman standing next to him holding a clipboard
Alice (CPOZ) and Dr Peter Ritson monitoring the 2020 planting area.
bird eyes drone image of mounded planting rows
Drone shot of the team monitoring the 2020 planting area.
woman bending down to measure the height of a plant with a man assisting with holding the measruing stick
Jess (CPOZ) measuring the height of a Melaleuca planted in 2019.
Close up of a green bush with small red fruit (Australian saltbush)
A thriving Atriplex semibaccata (‘Berry saltbush’).
Sandy paddock with sparse vegetation and signs of water erosion
Low lying portion of the 2021 planting area that was subjected to water logging. Salt crystals visible on the surface.
Close up of a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark') seedling in planting row
A Melaleuca cuticularis (‘Saltwater paperbark’) seedling in the 2021 planting area. Photo taken approx. 3 months post-planting.
Lady wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a broad brimmed hat squatting down in a weedy field to monitor a carbon project.
Heavy weed coverage across part of the 2021 planting area. These weeds are expected to perish over the summer months.
Group of ten people standing in a paddock holding buckets full of native seedlings and pottiputki planting devices
The 2021 planting team.
person standing behind a plant - Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark')
Monitoring a Melaleuca cuticularis (‘Saltwater paperbark’).
person standing next to a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark') plant and measuring its height with a measuring stick
Measuring the height of a Melaleuca lateriflora (‘Gorada’) shrub.
2 people walking across a planting site
Late afternoon at the saltland site.
close up of a Melaleuca brophyi plant
Healthy Melaleuca brophyi.
Planting rows of Melaleuca and Eucalyptus species.
Planting rows of Melaleuca and Eucalyptus species.
Eucalyptus loxophleba ('York gum')
Healthy Eucalyptus loxophleba (‘York gum’).
Woman standing next to a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark') growing in a planting row
Ches (CPOZ) next to an impressive Melaleuca cuticularis (‘Saltwater paperbark’).
Man with his hand up directing a women holding a rope across a paddock with dry weeds
Dr Peter Ritson and Ebony (CPOZ) setting up a monitoring plot.
Woman looking at a Casuarina obesa ('Swamp sheoak') plant in planting row
Ches (CPOZ) with a thriving Casuarina obesa (‘Swamp sheoak’).
Man filling up his bucket with seedlings from the back of a ute tray
Mainey (Noongar Budjar Rangers) filling up his bucket with seedlings.
Woman posing with a bucket full of seedlings and a pottiputki
Ebony (CPOZ) ready to begin planting.
woman admiring a Eucalytpus tree in planting row
Catherine (CPOZ) admiring a thriving Eucalytpus seedling that was planted just a year prior.
Woman holding a bucket of seedlings with another woman planting trees in the background
Jess and Ebony (CPOZ) planting some of the 4,000+ salt tolerant seedlings.
seedlings tray on the group with a pottiputki
Some of the 4,000+ seedlings ready for planting.
Mid shot of a man smiling with a bucket of seedlings
Jeremy (Noongar Budjar Rangers) planting seedlings.
measuring the diameter at breast height of a Melaleuca cuticularis
Measuring the DBH (diameter at breast height) of a Melaleuca cuticularis.
Close up of the side of a flowering Melaleuca lateriflora
Flowering Melaleuca lateriflora (‘Gorada’).
Women measuring the height of a Casuarina obesa ('Swamp sheoak').
Jess (CPOZ) measuring the height of a Casuarina obesa (‘Swamp sheoak’).
Close up of a Melaleuca atroviridis growing fruit.
Fruiting Melaleuca atroviridis.
Person measuring out a plot with a tape measure.
Jess (CPOZ) measuring out a monitoring plot.
Flowering Melaleuca brophyi
Flowering Melaleuca brophyi.
Woman standing with measuring stick next to a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark').
Jess (CPOZ) measuring the height of a Melaleuca cuticularis (‘Saltwater paperbark’).
Measuring the height of a Melaleuca brophyi ('Saltwater paperbark').
Measuring the height of a Melaleuca brophyi (‘Saltwater paperbark’) during 2023 monitoring.
dry weeds in a field
salt deposits and weeds in a proposed planting area
Three men standing next to 2 cars in the planting area ready for site preparation.
close up of seedlings in a tray
Eight people using hand-held mechanical planting devices to plant seedlings in a mounded paddock
Group photo of 19 people with seedlings buckets standing in a cleared area
close up of pottiputkis (manual tree planting tools)
Man and a woman standing in a field during tree planting event. Woman wearing a bright blue jacket holding a pottiputki (hand-held tree planting device). Man wearing a black sweater holding a bucket full of seedlings.
close up of seedling trays in a truck
Lady in orange high-vis and man with black jumper and hat holding seedlings about to be planted.
Man and a woman holding a tray of seedlings in a field
Trays of native Australian seedlings with white delivery truck and people in the background
Trays of native Australian seedlings on the ground
people loading up their planting buckets with seedlings ready to start planting
planting area with puddles of water between planting rows and people planting in the background
Man wearing a broad brimmed hat clearing dirt away from a white numbered marker in a weedy paddock
hand holding a seedling ready to drop into a pottiputki to be planted
A thriving Melaleuca thyoides ('Salt lake honey-myrtle')
man bending down to measure the height of a plant with a measuring stick and a woman standing next to him holding a clipboard
bird eyes drone image of mounded planting rows
woman bending down to measure the height of a plant with a man assisting with holding the measruing stick
Close up of a green bush with small red fruit (Australian saltbush)
Sandy paddock with sparse vegetation and signs of water erosion
Close up of a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark') seedling in planting row
Lady wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a broad brimmed hat squatting down in a weedy field to monitor a carbon project.
Group of ten people standing in a paddock holding buckets full of native seedlings and pottiputki planting devices
person standing behind a plant - Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark')
person standing next to a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark') plant and measuring its height with a measuring stick
2 people walking across a planting site
close up of a Melaleuca brophyi plant
Planting rows of Melaleuca and Eucalyptus species.
Eucalyptus loxophleba ('York gum')
Woman standing next to a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark') growing in a planting row
Man with his hand up directing a women holding a rope across a paddock with dry weeds
Woman looking at a Casuarina obesa ('Swamp sheoak') plant in planting row
Man filling up his bucket with seedlings from the back of a ute tray
Woman posing with a bucket full of seedlings and a pottiputki
woman admiring a Eucalytpus tree in planting row
Woman holding a bucket of seedlings with another woman planting trees in the background
seedlings tray on the group with a pottiputki
Mid shot of a man smiling with a bucket of seedlings
measuring the diameter at breast height of a Melaleuca cuticularis
Close up of the side of a flowering Melaleuca lateriflora
Women measuring the height of a Casuarina obesa ('Swamp sheoak').
Close up of a Melaleuca atroviridis growing fruit.
Person measuring out a plot with a tape measure.
Flowering Melaleuca brophyi
Woman standing with measuring stick next to a Melaleuca cuticularis ('Saltwater paperbark').
Measuring the height of a Melaleuca brophyi ('Saltwater paperbark').