Biosphere Discovery Week in Hopetoun

Supported by an Inspiring WA STEM Grant, Hopetoun CRC held a series of free excursions to explore the local Fitzgerald River National Park during the October school holidays. The National Park is one of five biospheres in Australia. The 330,000-hectare biosphere is home to over 2,000 species - 75% of which are endemic to the region!

The CRC organised bus excursions to the park along with a series of guest speakers. The community were joined by Landscape Ecologist, Nathan McQuoid, Ravensthorpe Herbarium Manager, Rosemary Jasper, and local Conservationist & Horticulturist, Donna Higgins. After exploring the park participants gathered together for a picnic at Barrens Beach lookout before returning home.

At the family event children received an investigator pack with a wildflower ID pamphlet, biosphere map, and flora & fauna checklists. These packs were used to find and identify the different flora & fauna on their checklists. QR codes were temporarily attached to some plants to help them identify the plants and find out more information about them.