Once cleared for agriculture and left to battle invasive grasses, depleted soils, and extreme heat, the Chittering site in Western Australia is now undergoing a vital transformation. Located along the spine of the Northern Darling Ranges, this 14.7-hectare area is the focus of a new terrestrial restoration initiative aimed at reviving biodiversity, improving climate resilience, and reconnecting fragmented ecosystems.

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The site’s history of farming—combined with growing pressures from climate change—has left it with poor canopy cover, weak native flora density, and soil that struggles to absorb water during heavy rainfall events. These conditions have not only worsened erosion and habitat fragmentation but also made the area more vulnerable to heatwaves and prolonged droughts. Challenges like extreme heat, dry soils, and hungry kangaroos are real, but mitigated through careful planting practices, adaptive species selection, and protective fencing.

To help the land recover, we’re planting nearly 20,000 native trees and shrubs—species like Acacia pulchella, Banksia grandis, and Eucalyptus marginata—to increase biodiversity, reduce soil temperatures, and build canopy cover. These efforts are designed to restore ecological corridors that reconnect fragmented habitats, supporting species such as the endangered Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo and vulnerable Forest Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo.

Restoration at Chittering also includes the creation of ecological corridors—green highways that connect the nearby Julimar Forest to other remnant vegetation patches. This helps to improve movement and survival for local wildlife, from the Brush Tailed Possum to the Splendid Fairywren.

Using our advanced technology, we’ll track forest health over time, ensuring the project continues to improve soil quality, water infiltration, and wildlife habitat. And as the vegetation returns, so too will the life it supports, from native insects and pollinators in the first year, to birds and mammals over the following seasons.

Chittering is more than a patch of land, it’s a critical piece in the puzzle of regional regeneration. And with every tree planted, we’re one step closer to a more connected, resilient, and biodiverse Western Australia.

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