Swan Coastal Plain Wetlands

A documentary about the Wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain in Perth, to promote conservation and public awareness of a critically endangered ecosystem”

The Swan Coastal Plain wetlands around Perth in Western Australia are one the most diverse and unique ecosystems on the planet. Since the arrival of Europeans settlers an estimated 80% have been lost due to population growth and development. Remaining wetlands are increasingly threatened by rapid population growth, groundwater abstraction and a drying climate. These critically impacted ecosystems provide important beneficial services including groundwater recharge, natural filtration of nutrients, pollutants and sediments, recreation, protection from groundwater flooding, and habitat for many species. Some of these species include the endangered Carnaby’s Cockatoo, the critically endangered Western Swamp tortoise, several types of Banksia, and Quenda. If the current rate of loss continues, it is expected that almost all of these remaining wetlands will be lost within the next 10–20 years. Urgent action is needed.

Wetlands are considered as important ecosystems that provide multiple benefits to humans, such as recreation and enjoyment of its biodiversity. Wetlands are mainly threatened due to human caused effects, such as climate change or urbanisation. Both factors negatively impact the hydrology of wetlands. The drying climate in Perth has resulted in too low water levels to support the ecology of wetlands. Ideally, wetland management need to respond to this change and should aim to protect the ecological integrity. This is unfortunately not the case. Community involvement is key to conservation efforts. The best way to communicate new research findings is through educational material; photo exhibitions; and a documentary that explains the values of the ecosystem.

  • In this documentary we aim to summarize the key findings of research conducted till now. With a historical narrative and a future prospective.
  • What is at stake? What is the current situation? And most important: What can we do to save them?
  • Through these questions we give an insight of the current situation of scientific research and a window to the near future.

THE PURPOSE

I created this page to help fund and expose my documentary journey across the Swan Coastal Plain. If successfully funded and distributed, this project would allow me to capture images of some of the world’s most biodiverse and endangered ecosystems and wildlife. These images and footage will allow me to tell a very detailed story of these critically impacted ecosystems and wildlife to a broad audience. My goal is to link documentary making and scientific documentation to promote a powerful way to promote conservation of these valuable habitats. These include the screening of the documentary and showing imagery at the Wetland Conservation Centres to support environmental education activities and gallery exhibitions to promote public awareness and providing the documentary for educational courses and public programs.

GOALS AND PRODUCTS

Wetland Conference – An exhibit is planned at the City Council of Aachen, Germany in February 2020 to showcase some of the photographs that are captured from this project and video images that will be shown as a short documentary. February 2nd will coincidence the celebration of World Wetland Day. The wildlife photography gallery will facilitate change by bringing attention to environmental issues through the persuasive power of photography and scientific communication towards a broad audience such as local governments, scientific institutes, nature conservation groups, and educational practitioners. This exhibition will allow the community to experience these remarkable habitats up close, and create a unique opportunity to promote conservation and public awareness of these critically impacted ecosystems.

Wetland Education Centre Exhibit – Photographs, the documentary and funds will go towards developing wetland based curriculum and interactive activities that will be used for education at the regional wetland education centres in Perth. The documentary will be integrated in the existing wetland education exhibit to make the connection between visitors and the natural environment; and how their own everyday habits impact the health and ecology of local wetlands. The photographs, curriculum, and interactive activities generated through this project will directly help the education centres to raise awareness of the local and regional wetland environment and to promote conservation by teaching wetland science to the public.

 

EXPERIENCE

Environmental Scientist – I was born and raised amongst the plentiful wetlands of the Netherlands, currently living in Perth. I received my M.Sc. degree in environmental sciences from Leiden University and Wageningen University, the Netherlands. I have worked in the ecological and conservation field since 2007, and am currently a teacher environmental education and Ph.D. student at the University of Western Australia, Perth. My research focuses on the topics of wetland management and groundwater flooding. Specifically, I am interested in various ecological questions that relate to urbanisation and drainage networks to prevent groundwater flooding and the effects on the wetland management. I am looking at future adaptation strategies to improve wetland conservation that enables protection of threatened and endangered species that inhabit the Swan Coastal Plain. Photography and documentary making allows me to communicate my research to a broader audience, and provides a powerful tool in promoting conservation and sustainability.