eDNA for Biodiversity Action
Project Overview
Gascoyne Catchments Group’s new project, Engaging Pastoralists: Providing a Deeper Understanding of Biodiversity and Monitoring, will work with pastoral businesses across the Gascoyne and Lower Pilbara bioregions to strengthen biodiversity outcomes in arid grazing landscapes. This project will support landholders to measure, monitor and manage biodiversity at scale, building practical capacity for restoration and improved landscape function. By integrating biodiversity monitoring into everyday management, the project aims to demonstrate clear links between biodiversity, soil health, productivity and carbon outcomes.
Project Goals
- Build pastoralists’ knowledge and capability to assess and manage biodiversity.
- Two properties will host site visits, monitoring, and training, providing real-world examples of biodiversity in pastoral systems.
- Field visits and GHG emissions session will connect biodiversity monitoring with broader environmental and business outcomes, including carbon awareness.
- 2 properties will host site visits sharing a newly established and an established key area on site providing real-world examples of biodiversity in a pastoral system.
- Share the benefits of protecting biodiversity assets on station, including increasing understanding of monitoring and plant species.
Key Activities
- Year 1 and Year 3 field visits with rangelands specialist to managed areas on two properties, one in the Gascoyne and one in the Pilbara.
- Rangelands Monitoring using Rangelands Monitoring Tool each year, working with land managers to increase overall understanding of landscape function.
- Deliver training on GHG calculators to provide producers with a clear understanding of emissions in a rangelands environment.
- Regional knowledge-sharing forums and biodiversity data reporting.
Learn more about the project here.
Project Updates
Project Milestones
Gascoyne Catchments Group Inc. has progressed the project from planning into on-ground delivery, supporting greater understanding of biodiversity in pastoral landscapes and building producer confidence in biodiversity monitoring. Biodiversity field walks, originally scheduled for April, were successfully delivered at Koordarrie Station on 9 June 2026 and Lyndon Station on 11 June 2026 following delays caused by Tropical Cyclone Narelle.
Field Visits and Evidence Gathering
Producers visited established biodiversity monitoring sites and received training in the Rangeland Monitoring Tool (RMT) from Jodie McTaggart. Discussions with host landholders and project consultant Richard Marver (Contour Consulting) focused on monitoring approaches and practical management applications. Baseline ecological information from previous assessments has been incorporated into the project, with ongoing monitoring undertaken using the RMT, fixed photo points and field cameras. These activities will provide data to measure environmental change throughout the life of the project.
Knowledge Sharing and Producer Engagement
The field walks provided opportunities for producers to learn about biodiversity monitoring within pastoral businesses, including site establishment, monitoring methods, and the relationship between biodiversity, landscape function and productive grazing systems. A strong focus was placed on peer-to-peer learning, with participants sharing experiences, asking questions and discussing how similar approaches could be applied on their own properties.
Moving Towards On-Ground Action
The project is now implementing on-ground monitoring activities across participating pastoral properties. Ongoing ecological monitoring and data collection will support improved understanding of biodiversity outcomes and inform future land management decisions. The project continues to integrate monitoring into everyday property management through practical training and demonstration activities.
The project has now progressed from planning into on-ground delivery. It is these efforts that are strengthening understanding of biodiversity in pastoral landscapes and building confidence to integrate monitoring into everyday management.