LANDSCOPE Magazine Volume 40, Number 1

Front cover Little pied cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos). Photo – Sue Harper Back cover The sticky carnivorous leaves of a sundew (Drosera) found in the Porongurup Range. Photo – Cliff Winfield LANDSCOPE is produced and printed on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar, the traditional lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation. We pay respects to them, their Elders past and present and to all Aboriginal people and acknowledge their continuing connection to lands across Western Australia.We are blessed to have beautiful scenery in Western Australia, from rugged gorges to fantastic forests, vast…

We are blessed to have beautiful scenery in Western Australia, from rugged gorges to fantastic forests, vast deserts and magnificent marine parks. This edition of LANDSCOPE celebrates just some of the many places that offer a special connection between visitor and landscape. When investing in nature-based tourism, it’s important to strike the right balance between conservation and visitation. You can read about a unique cultural experience in Karijini National Park, home of the Banjima people (see ‘Karijini Experience’ on page 28), where an annual festival offers four days of culture, art, food and music, with an awe-inspiring backdrop. Nature-based tourism, such as this, received a boost from the pandemic. A halt in international travel allowed people to explore their own backyard, and beyond. In many places, that got people camping,…

Gooitzen van der Meer is an accomplished illustrator whose works have graced the pages and covers of LANDSCOPE magazine for the last 20 years. Gooitzen specialises in watercolour artwork and is renowned for the careful detail and textures of the natural world that he is able to communicate through his artwork. This will be the final edition where Gooitzen’s artwork will appear on the Nature’s pin-up feature on page 54 as he is retiring after 49 years in the public service. It has been a privilege to showcase his incredible talent over the years. Clinton Hull is an outdoor enthusiast with a keen interest in exploring marine and park environments, and trails. He has more than 25 years’ experience working in parks from the south coast of Western Australia to…

Snap shot “We visited the very beautiful pristine environment of Island Point Reserve near Mandurah and came across these freshly flowering bird orchids. In fact, the left-hand side one is not opened fully. Bird orchids are quite common and seem to grow profusely in leaf litter. It is my experience that they grow from Perth to Albany. They look very attractive, often being almost translucent in the sun. It’s not uncommon to be able to almost see right through them.” Have you got a fantastic nature photograph you would like to see published in LANDSCOPE? Send it, along with a 100-word description of the species or how and where you took the shot, to landscope@dbca.wa.gov.au…

On 8 July 2024, the Bicentennial Tree in the State’s Pemberton region reopened for climbing to the 20-metre platform. The partial reopening is the first step in a program of upgrades at the Gloucester and Bicentennial trees. In 2023, both trees were closed to allow for structural investigations and upgrades to the viewing platforms. The community and industry have been very patient while arborists and engineers have been working behind the scenes. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) will continue to work with a range of specialists to detail and implement design solutions for both trees including an upper tree canopy experience at Bicentennial Tree and a mid-tree platform at Gloucester Tree in the next 12 to 18 months.…

Two scent detection dogs have been brought to Western Australia from New South Wales as part of a week-long trial and feasibility study in detecting Phytophthora cinnamomi. Echo, a three-year-old Brittany spaniel, and Alice, a two-year-old English springer spaniel have been trained to sniff out the soil-borne disease that damages native plants and threatens the health and resilience of national parks, reserves and public gardens. If the trial is successful, this team would be used as part of the wider program to combat the spread of dieback in affected areas in the State’s south west and on the south coast. Professional dog handler Ryan Tate said Alice and Echo performed well in their phytophthora dieback detection and alert tests.…