What We Do
Since 2009, we have been working in partnership as stewards of more than 4 million hectares of land within a global biodiversity hotspot, one of the most biologically diverse but endangered areas in the world.
ABOUT SFCL
Southern Forests Community Landcare, formerly known as the Warren Catchments Council, was established on 3 July 2009 under the Associations Incorporation Act 1987. As a non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation, Southern Forests Community Landcare manages natural resources in the Warren sub-region.
At Southern Forest Community Landcare, a group of passionate volunteers leads the council with a vision to support the well-being of forests, rivers, rural activities, and dreams in the Warren community. Located in the southwest of Western Australia, the Warren sub-region is a part of the South West NRM Region. This area includes the Warren, Donnelly, Meerup, Doggerup, Gardner, Shannon, and Deep Rivers, with the Warren River being the largest, encompassing the Tone, Perup, and Wilgarup Rivers.
WHAT WE DO
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Improve the health, productivity and profitability of agriculture through encouraging and promoting sustainable practices.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Increase the knowledge, skills and participation of the community.
BIODIVERSITY
Conserve and protect biodiversity in the Southern Forests.
WATER RESOURCES
Maintain, improve and protect water resources in our region.
If you would like more information on flora and fauna, weed identification and treatment options, please head over to our blog for specific resources.
WHO ARE WE
Our committee members all live locally and have done so for many years. They come from diverse backgrounds and experience, but one thing they all have in common is a deep love for country.
OUR COMMITTEE
Chair - Mark Batty
Mark has spent his professional life primarily working in, with, or for local governments at the local, regional, state and national level.
Commencing as an hydrographer with a Victorian regional local government, he’s been largely focused on policy and programs in natural resource management and sustainability, with a commitment to ensuring informed decision making underpinned by good governance.
A former Rangelands NRM Board member, and Executive Manager at the WA Local Government Association, he is now semi-retired on a Land for Wildlife property outside of Northcliffe, and amongst other voluntary pursuits is a member of the Southern Forests Community Landcare executive, undertaking the role of Treasurer and now Chair, elected at the 2024 AGM.
Secretary - Kathy Dawson
Sustainable agriculture has been the primary focus of Kathy's fifteen years as part of the Southern Forests Community Landcare family. Sharing soil research and creating opportunities for local farmers to try alternative strategies to address the drain on profits that rising input costs are causing remains a mission. Working with innovative and cooperative farmers, the value of dung beetles and biochar in agricultural systems has been demonstrated to a global audience.
As a Committee Member, Kathy's main secretarial role is to help keep SFCL afloat in this time of scarce landcare funding.
Treasurer - Ann Bentley
Ann is passionate about the environment and educating the community on how to conserve and create fauna habitats. Ann promotes sustainable living, reducing waste and permaculture principles. Southern Forests Community Landcare has given her the opportunity to help the environment and the community on a whole landscape scale.
https://au.linkedin.com/in/ann-bentley-03065a91
Committee Member - Julian Sharp
Julian Sharp is the previous Chair of the Warren Catchments Council Inc. (WCC), having been involved with WCC since the early 1990’s. He has a long-term interest and involvement in forest conservation, farm forestry and landscape restoration through revegetation, climate change action, sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and political advocacy for community-based land care and natural resource management.
Julian operates a small family farm near Pemberton, grows plantation hardwood timber and runs a sawmill producing sustainably grown construction timber, as well as contracting to other farmers and landholders wishing to utilise timber that may otherwise be wasted.
He is passionate about action at the community level in addressing many issues impacting rural communities, especially climate change, water conservation and rural sustainability and resilience.