Wheatbelt Restoration Standards

The Wheatbelt is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot facing multiple pressures, including extensive historical clearing, fragmentation and climate-induced drying. As restoration activity increases, a shared understanding of what effective restoration looks like is essential to achieving outcomes that can be replicated and scaled across the region.

WABSI developed the Restoration Standards in response to knowledge gaps and barriers identified with stakeholders from government, industry and research. The process incorporated literature reviews and engagement with Noongar kaartdijin knowledge holders, restoration and climate scientists, natural resource managers, agriculture, government and industry.

The Standards provide a framework, principles and practical tools to guide restoration managers through planning and implementation. Resources include approaches for selecting appropriate species and planting designs, developing completion criteria, assessing restoration barriers and enablers, setting targets, estimating costs and capturing consistent field and monitoring data.

The approach recognises that successful restoration is not simply about establishing vegetation. It needs to consider ecological function, resilience, social and economic values, regulatory requirements and the long-term management of restored landscapes. Consistent, repeatable and scalable approaches can help improve restoration quality, encourage innovation and collaboration, and strengthen investment in landscape-scale restoration.