Members planting day a success

On 1 August we held our second Member Volunteer Day for 2026.  We were joined by 28 dedicated volunteers to plant seedlings to the south of Wadjemup Lighthouse.  

On the day we were led by the experienced RIA Environment Team, giving comprehensive planting demonstrations and some fascinating insights into the Woodlands Restoration initiative.  

It was interesting to learn that our planting work supports the revegetation of whole ecological communities.  On Rottnest, due to historical clearing for farming, firewood, and salt works, the Rottnest Island Pine and Rottnest Tea Tree  Ecological Community has been reduced significantly, and is classified as threatened. 

By planting a mix of Rottnest Island Pine, Rottnest Tea Tree and a wide variety of understory species, including the Rhagodia baccata (berry saltbush), our volunteers are supporting the revegetation of a Threatened Ecological Community (TEC).   

Our dedicated and passionate member volunteers harmonised brilliantly on the day to plant nearly 1,000 seedlings, each with a tree guard, to protect them from hungry quokkas! Results like these are vital to our goal of revegetating 53ha of Rottnest Island’s Woodland environments. 

Membership and volunteering are at the heart of the Foundation’s activities on Wadjemup. Creating an opportunity not only to conserve the island, but also to build a community of passionate members, keen to give back. 

We have one more volunteer activity for 2026, a Sea Spurge removal day on 14 November.  If you would like to register your interest, email us now.