Bringing all the key players together for the coordinated protection, management and enhancement of Western Port Ramsar values
Wetlands are important feeding grounds and nurseries for land, marine and freshwater animals. Hundreds of bird species depend on wetlands around the world as part of their life cycle. Western Port is listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Since 2010, the Port Phillip & Westernpot Catchment Management Authority has coordinated a Ramsar Protection Program bringing various organisations and community members together to maintain and improve the ecological values of Western Port by delivering collaborative projects that manage threats including pest animals and invasive weeds.
Significant emphasis is also placed on community engagement activities to raise awareness of the environmental values of this Ramsar-listed wetland and how to help protect it.
There is opportunity to expand and/or complement the existing program with additional on-ground and community engagement projects, and to extend the program into future years.
Themes and Local Areas
| Primary Theme: | Wetlands |
| Other Themes: | Native vegetation, Native animals, Coasts, Estuaries, Marine environments, Communities, Climate change |
| Primary Local Area: | Western Port |
| Other Local Areas: | Mornington Peninsula, Bass Coast, South Gippsland & islands, Casey, Cardinia & Baw Baw |
| Project location: | Various coastal and marine locations in the Western Port Ramsar site |
| Scale of the project: | Landscape – multiple sites across Western Port |
| New or continuing work: | Continuing/building on previous work |
Project partners
| Lead organisation: | Melbourne Water |
| Key partners: | Parks Victoria, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Casey City Council, Cardinia Shire Council, Bass Coast Shire Council, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Foundation, Bass Coast Landcare Network, Western Port Catchment Landcare Network, French Island Landcare, Zoos Victoria, Birdlife Australia, Conservation Volunteers Australia |
| Registered Aboriginal Party/s relevant to the project or its area: | Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation |
Investment opportunities
| Opportunities for investors within this project start from: | $$ (Tens of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated scale of investment for full project implementation: | $$$$ (Millions of dollars) |
| Estimated timeframe for full project implementation: | 2-10 years |
Contribution toward targets
| Primary Regional Catchment Strategy target: | Ramsar wetlands – The ecological condition of the Western Port Ramsar wetland is maintained or improved from 2021 to 2050 |
| Relevant Biodiversity 2037 goal: | Support people take action for nature through volunteering for nature or engaging in citizen science |
| Relevant National Landcare Program priority: | Ramsar wetlands – Western Port |
