Skip to content
Landscape at Evelyn Downs in South Australia. Photo Annette Ruzicka.
Landscape at Evelyn Downs in South Australia. Photo Annette Ruzicka.

Impact Report

A year of depth and growth.
Published 22 Aug 2024

Our Impact Report 2023-24 reflects 12 months of vital achievements for nature. Thank you for making these possible and allowing us to meet the environmental challenges of today and tomorrow.

This year, in line with our 2030 Strategy, we proved our ability to grow and deliver deep impact.

Our reserve network expanded in strategic locations; we connected with a wider range of Traditional Custodians; and we worked alongside farmers and private landholders to boost biodiversity on agricultural lands. Together we're rising to the challenge of protecting nature to give it the best chance to thrive, now and in the future.


We help protect and contribute to the management of:

gum leaves
1.46

million hectares

Through our reserve network

9.8

million hectares

Of agricultural land where we have been engaged to provide biodiversity assessments and advice

10.4

million hectares

With our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners

gecko

By the numbers

icon

2

new reserves

icon

5

landscape rehydration projects

icon

25

scientific papers published

icon

27

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander partnerships

icon

29

feral animal management programs undertaken across reserves

icon

31

weed management strategies in place

icon

41

events (inclusive of 6 virtual events and 35 in-person events)

icon

57

on-Country trips supported (workshops, camps, events)

icon

62

early career conservationists supported through Seeding the Future (inclusive of 11 Internships, 21 Research Masters, 30 Student Placements)

icon

76

research projects undertaken

icon

182

Bush Heritage Staff

icon

310

hectares planted

icon

9,337

native species – the number of plant and animal species recorded on our reserves to date

icon

40,627

volunteer hours contributed

Financial results

Revenue 2023-24
$42 million

56%
Donations & gifts
24%
Bequests
6%
Volunteer and pro-bono services
4%
Grants
4%
Conservation enterprises
6%
Other incl interest & investment income
 

Expenses 2023-24
$39 million

70%
Conservation management activities
11%
Organisational support
8%
Conservation communities, events & education
6%
Fundraising activities
5%
Investment in new supporters
 
“We remain in an excellent position to deliver on the key priorities of our 2030 Strategy, as evidenced by our significant impact on reserves and acquisitions during the year, all whilst continuing to grow a strong financial base.” – Mark Dwyer, Chief Financial Officer

Highlights

The Conservation Futures team.

22/08/2024 22/08/2024

Knowledge keeper

Four years ago, Rebecca Spindler was asked about how we can manage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge in a culturally safe way.

Read More
Pink wildflowers. Photo by Sarah Gilleland.

22/08/2024 22/08/2024

Waiting to bloom

This year, at Eurardy Reserve on Nanda Country in mid-north Western Australia, we led an innovative project to restore the iconic understorey of annual wildflowers.

Read More
Farm near Cowra, Wiradjuri Country, NSW. Photo by Bee Stephens.

22/08/2024 22/08/2024

Setting a standard

More than 10 years ago, we widened our conservation focus to include land managed for agriculture.

Read More
Evelyn Downs, Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Country. Photo by Annette Ruzicka.

22/08/2024 22/08/2024

Walking the walk

When Bruce Hammond first laid eyes on the Breakaways at Evelyn Downs, he saw more than a vista of striking escarpments above rocky plains.

Read More
Djaara Traditional Custodians, DJAARA and Bush Heritage Staff on Djandak, Vic. Phot by Bridget Mattingley.

22/08/2024 22/08/2024

A shared journey

“We listened to what Djaara was telling us, simple as that! It meant that Djaara were fully informed and engaged in the process – in healing Country."

Read More

BUSHTRACKS 21/06/2024

Cubba Cubbah forever

Baseline ecological monitoring for BackTrack guides healing strategies for Country.

Read More
Dodgey Downs fenceline between paddock and remnant vegetation. By Bee Stephens

BUSHTRACKS 21/06/2024

Space to move

Connecting landscapes to mitigate biodiversity loss.

Read More
Ecologist Dr Donna Belder bird monitoring on Scottsdale Reserve, Ngambri and Ngarigo Country, NSW. Photo: Tad Souden

BUSHTRACKS 25/03/2024

Birdy barometer

One in four woodland-dependant birds are listed as threatened, and their populations are declining. Monitoring sheds light on how we can protect them.

Read More

BUSHTRACKS 11/01/2024

Blue wings, smelly ant

The search for an ant leads scientists to Carnarvon Station Reserve and one of Australia’s rarest of butterflies.

Read More
Hickman's Farm looking south, central NSW, Wiradjuri Country. By Bee Stephens.

BUSHTRACKS 11/01/2024

A natural link

Preliminary findings from an innovative agricultural research project show a positive link between biodiversity and prosperity.

Read More
Ecological monitoring at Burrin Burrin Reserve, Ngambri, Yuin walbunja muncata and Ngarigo Country, New South Wales. By Tim Clark

BUSHTRACKS 11/01/2024

Burrin Burrin heals

Ecological monitoring at Burrin Burrin Reserve indicates good management and nature’s ability to recover.

Read More
Prescribed burn at Pilunga Reserve, Wangkamadla Country. By Bee Stephens

BUSHTRACKS 27/10/2023

Land, bird, smoke and man

Prescribed burns on Pilungah and Ethabuka reserves, Wangkamadla Country, prepare the landscape for bushfire season and enhance biodiversity.

Read More
Let the planting begin! Koreng Noongar Country, Western Australia. By Adrian Gaspari, Green Man Media

BUSHTRACKS 27/10/2023

Restoration and carbon capture

The first seeds of a world-class restoration project are planted and set the bar for future carbon projects.

Read More
Sandstone escarpment at Carnarvon Reserve. By Terry Cooke

BUSHTRACKS 27/10/2023

A case for nature

In 2020, Queensland’s first Special Wildlife Reserve was declared at our Pullen Pullen Reserve on Maiawali Country to recognise the significance of the reserve’s Night Parrot population. Now, we're on a mission to achieve the status for five of our other Queensland reserves, granting the highest level of protection for privately owned property in Australia.

Read More
Loading...

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the following groups who were vital to our successes in 2023-24. 

Our supporters | Our Board | Aboriginal partners | Corporate partners | Regional partners | Research partners 

Your generous support helps us continue vital conservation work.

Download your Impact Report

As part of our commitment to sustainability and paperless communications, we’ve reduced the number of printed Impact Report copies.

You can download a full, print-ready PDF of our Impact Report 2023-24, including our financial statements and auditor's report.

Archived copies of Annual Reports and Financial Reports from past years are also available.

Impact Report 2023-24

Impact Report 2023-24 (2.8mb PDF)

{{itemsInCart}} Items - {{formatCurrency(grandTotal)}}