Alcoa Foundation partners on three Peel-Harvey projects

Elder Harry Nannup conducting a Smoking Ceremony to bless works on the Serpentine River

Alcoa Foundation has announced funding of more than $2 million for three environmental projects across the Peel-Harvey Catchment.

The partnerships with Greening Australia, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and The Nature Conservancy will help deliver on-ground and in-water environmental actions in consultation with the community, to improve the health of the Peel-Harvey Catchment over three years.

“Alcoa is delighted to be working with three highly respected environmental organisations to support the Serpentine, Murray and Harvey rivers which are not only environmentally significant, but make important contributions to the social and economic health of the region,” said Alcoa of Australia Managing Director, Michael Parker.

“These new partnerships are very clearly focussed on improved environmental outcomes for the Peel-Harvey Catchment and reflect Alcoa’s commitment to returning value to the communities where we operate.”

The projects, which commence in 2017, will contribute directly to the on-going health and management of the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar System. The 26,500 hectare wetland system, including the Peel-Harvey Estuary, is recognised as a wetland of international significance under the Ramsar Convention (Ramsar Site 482).

There are a number of threats impacting on the rivers and wetlands of the Peel-Harvey including land clearing and agricultural land use, urban development, recreational land use and climate change.

Eastern Osprey, Pandion Cristatus, with catch on the Peel Harvey Estuary Western Australia. cc MartinD62 I Wikipedia

The three separate but complementary projects will enhance existing ventures and boost new initiatives to protect and improve the condition of the three major rivers that discharge into the Peel-Harvey estuarine system – the Murray, Serpentine and Harvey rivers – and the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar System.

Greening Australia will work in partnership with industry, community and local land management groups through the Three Rivers Initiative to improve the condition of the rivers, reverse the loss of habitat for threatened species and help restore and relink the catchment’s fragmented landscape.

“Greening Australia is 35 years old this year and we have also been in a continuous partnership with Alcoa for the entire 35 years. The Three Rivers initiative presents a renewed partnership opportunity to extend our collaboration and to improve the condition of these three significant rivers,’ said CEO of Greening Australia, Brendan Foran.

We acknowledge the Noongar people as Traditional Custodians of this land and pay our respects to all Elders past and present.