Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) will take their commitment to encouraging a “wetlands wise” community up a notch over the coming months with the launch of their project, “Supporting people for wetland wise use in the Peel-Harvey”.
Made possible through a State NRM Capability Grant, the project is designed to focus on some of the key priorities of the PHCC’s Wetlands and People Plan, and will involve a comprehensive community consultation campaign, with involvement from young people across the Region.
PHCC CEO Jane O’Malley said around 20 young people will be involved in developing a major social media marketing plan, designed to reach their peers across the Peel-Harvey catchment.
“Our Wetlands and People Plan forms the foundation of all we do to keep the Peel-Harvey’s Ramsar-listed Peel-Yalgorup Wetland System and other local wetlands healthy,” Ms O’Malley said.
“We seek to engage and educate all of our different stakeholders in our cause, with young people representing the future leaders of this Region.”
The ambitious campaign will go beyond simple information exchange, and seek to shift social norms, leading to improvements to wetland health across the community.
PHCC Chair Andy Gulliver said the PHCC will work with local governments and regional organisations in the area, to deliver the program, and increase the public’s capacity to make a difference through environmental education.
“Our plan includes various strategies to connect with our diverse range of stakeholders,” he said.
“We will deliver thought-provoking activities designed to create a more active, engaged, aware and informed community, in a bid to improve the health of our ecosystem over the longer term.”
The program will include wetlands-themed art and environmental events and activities, developed with the local Noongar community, which embraces local traditional knowledge.
Community members will also be invited to participate in citizen science projects to gather wetlands data and knowledge about our wetlands.
“Supporting people for wetland wise use in the Peel-Harvey’ is an exciting project,” Mr Gulliver said.
For more information go to peel-harvey.org.au
