Wattlebewillbe’s First Environmental Account Achieves Certification

Wattlebewillbe’s first Environmental Account has officially been certified under the Accounting for Nature® Framework, marking an important milestone for small-scale private conservation properties.

Developed by Thriive Ecological, with support from Burnett Catchment Care Association and 4 Elements, and guidance from from Kilter Rural and Natural Decisions, the account was designed to monitor woodland habitat condition and support evidence-based land management over time.

Importantly, the project also helped ground-test the Accounting for Nature® F-02 Woodland Bird Method on properties smaller than 100 hectares — an important step in exploring how environmental accounting can be applied at smaller scales.

Woodland Birds as Indicators of Habitat Health

Field surveys were undertaken over one week in October 2025 using standardised 2-hectare / 20-minute woodland bird survey methods.

The account recorded an Econd® score of 88/100 — currently the highest Woodland Bird condition score recorded under the method.

A total of 42 native bird species were recorded during formal surveys, with many more species observed across the property outside the monitoring period.

The exceptionally high species richness reflects:

• Strong landscape connectivity

• High ecological integrity

• Structurally complex woodland habitat

• More than a decade of targeted conservation management

Together, these findings indicate that Wattlebewillbe provides important habitat continuity for both specialist and generalist woodland bird species.

More Than Just Birds

Although the Environmental Account focused on woodland birds, observations across the property confirmed a wide range of native fauna, including:

• Greater gliders

• Feathertail gliders

• Sugar gliders

• Rufous bettongs

• Northern brown bandicoots

• Brush-tailed phascogales

• Koalas

Threatened bird species recorded outside the formal monitoring program include the Powerful Owl, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Common Greenshank, and Grey Plover.

These observations reinforce the ecological value of Wattlebewillbe and highlight the importance of ongoing restoration and evidence-based land management on small private conservation properties.

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📩 To contact Thriive Ecological email: info@thriive.com.au

*Wattlebewillbe is a 22-hectare Wildlife Land Trust sanctuary in the Brigalow Belt, managed for conservation and ecological restoration since 2010. Previously cleared for intensive grazing and timber harvesting, it is now being restored as a regenerative conservation landscape that integrates low-impact food production with biodiversity recovery, with a particular focus on habitat for the endangered greater glider.