More than $70,000 will be spent in an effort to protect the unique biodiversity assets of the Nullarbor karst as part of the $15million statewide conservation initiative, Saving our Species.
Department of Environment and Conservation Southern Rangelands Biodiversity Coordinator Sylvia Clarke said the Nullarbor housed the world's largest arid karst (limestone) system.
"The Nullarbor is an area of national and international significance that includes hundreds of caves and unique ecosystems of flora and fauna," Ms Clarke said
"There are potential threats to the system due to a historical lack of understanding and management of the caves, uncontrolled human contact and altered water levels.
"This project will allow us to develop effective management strategies that will help protect this unique ecosystem for future generations and will contribute to the global knowledge of karst management."
DEC will manage the project in partnership with the Rangelands Natural Resource Management Coordinating Group, speleological groups, the WA Museum and the Goldfields Land and Sea Council.
A project steering group has been established and a consultant will soon be hired to begin work on interim management guidelines.
Ms Clarke said the Nullarbor karst project was part of the Saving our Species program, funded through a two-year conservation dividend introduced in the 2006-07 State Budget.
"It has been recognised that there is a need to take immediate action to conserve WA's unique biodiversity, ensuring that future generations of Western Australians can also appreciate our flora and fauna and their diverse habitats," she said.
"Saving our Species is supporting about70 strategic projects targeting invasive animals, environmental weeds, biological survey and research, Phytophthora dieback and recovery of threatened species and ecological communities.
"We are focusing on these specific issues because they pose some of the greatest threats or problems to biodiversity in our State."
