Brookton Saltland, WA
Balardong Noongar Country
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 salinisation 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 that replicate the pre-colonisation vegetation.
Since 2019, approximately 35,000 native seedlings have been planted across the site including Atriplex (‘Salt bush’), Melaleuca, Eucalyptus and Casuarina species. Further infill planting is scheduled for winter 2022 to bulk up patchy areas of the site.
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Project Overview
- Planting Type: Saltland Carbon
- Region: Wheatbelt, WA
- Planted: 2019, 2020 and 2021
- Size: 28.5 hectares
- Seedling Count: 34,949 (hand-planted seedlings)
- Supported By: State Natural Resource Management Program
- Partners: FarmWoods, Noongar Budjar Rangers (Wheatbelt NRM)
- ERF Registered: No
- Legal Permanence: 30 years
Project Timeline
November 2018
SITE ASSESSMENT
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 water logging, the assessment included recommendations for planting methodology, species selection and ongoing site management.
December 2018
SPECIES SELECTION & ORDERS
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.
July 2019
SITE PREPARATION
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.
July 2019
PLANTING
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) pictured above. These handy tools make fast and comfortable work of a planting area.
November 2019
SURVIVAL MONITORING
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 need for infill in July was advised.
May 2020
MONITORING
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.
July 2020
INFILL PLANTING
During winter, approximately 6,500 seedings 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.
April 2021
MONITORING
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.
July 2021
NEW & INFILL PLANTING
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 Rangers 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.
October 2021
SURVIVAL MONITORING
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.
What's Next?
MONITORING & INFILL
The team will be back on site in April 2022 to undertake a comprehensive monitoring assessment of the 2019, 2020 and 2021 planting areas. A further 3,900 seedlings will also be planted next winter to infill patchy areas of the 2021 area.
Species Planted
Acacia
1 species
• wattle
• short lifespan
• nitrogen fixing
Atriplex
1 species
• low-lying shrub
• salt-tolerant
• drought tolerant
• salt-tolerant
• drought tolerant
Casuarina
1 species
• salt and drought tolerant
• attracts native birds
• nitrogen-converter
• attracts native birds
• nitrogen-converter
Eucalyptus
1 species
• high survivability in nutrient-poor soils
• fast maturing tree
• utilised for canopy cover
• fast maturing tree
• utilised for canopy cover
Melaleuca
5 species
• fire-adapted (for seed promotion and survival)
• salt-tolerant
• tree
• salt-tolerant
• tree
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