Building resilient ecosystems rich in biodiversity is critical to our mission. This aim faces additional challenges when restoring degraded landscapes in a changing climate. Though we are tackling this head-on.

While there was a celebration of the recent rains in the north of South Australia, it has also been a sobering time. There has been very little rain for a long time. In fact, in a single night in mid-March, Witchelina received more rain than in the whole of 2025. This followed an incredibly hot period, with much of January’s temperatures in the high 40s, dropping to the high 30s overnight. These conditions placed extreme stress on the landscape and its inhabitants, reinforcing the importance of our work.

The long-term benefits of our actions will support resilience during extended hot, dry periods, which we expect to increase. However, the work and positive impacts will also take time.

Climate-related conservation actions at the remote Hiltaba and Witchelina Nature Reserves include:

• Reducing total grazing pressure from stock and pest species to support revegetation of native flora, providing food and shelter for native species
• Weed management actions to support revegetation of native flora, providing food and shelter for native species
• Decommissioning of artificial water points, including dams that are no longer required, and encouraging overpopulation of some species, particularly macropods
• Developing bird-only watering points to assist during long-term dry or hot periods
• Investigating artificial heatwave refugia for native birds at Witchelina Nature Reserve through a project grant by Wettenhall Environment Trust

The recent rains have filled the tanks, which is very welcome to our onsite Conservation Land Managers and will be much appreciated by this season’s visitors. However, they have also damaged many tracks and roads, affecting access and activities.

Witchelina received over 250mm of rain in three separate events from late February to early March, already ~100mm more than the yearly average, and nature has responded quickly and vibrantly.

Mitchell grasses (Astrebla) are reported to already be beyond waist-height, and huge areas of Crinum flaccidum (Andamooka Lily or Stink Lilies) have popped up. Sudell’s Frog (Neobatrachus sudellae) have dug themselves out and are becoming active, and Shield Shrimps (Notostraca) have been seen all through the swales amongst the sandhills. Not normally seen at this time, there are numerous, large, healthy caterpillars providing nutritious food for the four native bat species found across the reserve.

We look forward to monitoring and sharing more outcomes from the heavy rain on the remote reserves and continuing our efforts to increase resilience across the landscapes.

Top: Frog (not yet identified) at Hiltaba Nature Reserve.

Hiltaba Nature Reserve

Hiltaba enjoyed a steady drenching of over 102mm across three days in early March, with the waterfall and dam behind the Homestead flowing strongly.

Above: water near Shearer's Quarters and Woolshed. 

Witchelina Nature Reserve

Witchelina received over 250mm of rain in three separate events from late February to early March, already ~100mm more than the yearly average.

Above: Mirra Weir

Above: Station Creek
Above: Stink Lilies (Crinum flaccidum) and green towards Termination Hill