Reflecting on 2020

 – a message from our Chair  

A reception given by the Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia for the WA Parks Foundation in November was an opportunity to thank our Board Directors, Government and corporate partners and others for the support given this year. It was also an occasion to reflect on the environmental, social and cultural importance of our parks and reserves and the Foundation’s activities over the past 12 months.

Governor Beazley, who is Patron of the WA Parks Foundation hosted this event at Government House with his wife Susie. He spoke about the vastness, and the spectacular biodiversity of Western Australia’s more than 31-million-hectare conservation estate.

He said the work of the Foundation, enabled by its private, public sector and community supporters, was helping to generate greater appreciation of our parks and reserves and the importance of protecting and conserving our precious and rare plants and animals.

The assistance provided to the Foundation, both financial and in kind, continued to be of huge importance in helping to deliver programs and projects designed to connect people to WA’s parks and build appreciation of these wonderful natural assets and promote engagement, he said.

With our very unusual year nearing an end, it’s encouraging to look back on the Foundation’s progress in 2020. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, we have been able to take several key projects and programs forward, working closely with our corporate, government and community partners.

Amongst the achievements:

• Kalbarri, Cape Range and Francois Peron National Parks have been added this year to the Smart Park mapping program sponsored by BHP and delivered by the WA Parks Foundation in partnership with the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
• The Matilda Bay interpretation node supported by Woodside has been opened as part of the Parks and Wildlife Service River Journeys project.
• Capacity building has occurred with the support of Founding Partner Wesfarmers and Coogee Chemicals.
• Imaginative, event-filled Spring into Parks campaigns have been a real success, made possible through the support of Chevron Australia, DBCA and community partners.
• A business case to support the further revitalisation of the John Forrest National Park has been completed with the support of Fortescue Metals Group and DBCA as joint sponsors.
• We are progressing early development stages for a quokka rewilding study in WA’s South-West, with this initial stage made possible through the support of the Wright-Burt Foundation

I look forward to 2021 in continuing to work with our partners and community to promote and conserve our parks and reserves and encourage visitors to experience the wonders of WA natural environment.

Meanwhile, thank you for your support and best wishes for a happy, enjoyable and safe Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.

Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO

Chair, WA Parks Foundation