Bush Heritage Australia Launches Nil Desperandum Campaign to Protect Murray-Darling Basin Ecosystem

Leading conservation not-for-profit Bush Heritage Australia is fundraising to acquire a property that forms part of one of the most important waterbird breeding sites in Australia.

Nil Desperandum, a 4,037-hectare property located in one of the least disturbed parts of the Murray–Darling Basin in north-western New South Wales is the property Bush Heritage have set their hopes on securing as healthy country protected forever. 

The acquisition connects bushland between the organisation’s Naree Reserve, a partnership property owned by South Endeavor Trust called Yantabulla Station, and the NSW state government’s newly acquired, Cuttaburra National Park. All up this  extends a nature corridor covering over 70,000 hectares and protecting almost 200 native species.

Nil Desperandum, meaning ‘nothing is to be despaired of’, is part of a nationally significant wetland, Yantabulla Swamp. By purchasing the property, Bush Heritage hopes to protect critical wetland habitat and improve the water flow entering the wetland.

“The Yantabulla Swamp is an incredibly important waterbird breeding site, it is one of the most significant wetlands in the Murray–Darling Basin,” says Dr Jo Axford, Head of Region at Bush Heritage. “We see a huge diversity and abundance of birds in this area including migratory birds that come when conditions are right, and tens of thousands of waterbirds that rely on this ecosystem to forage, nest and breed.”

The property has historically been grazed by cattle and sheep, which put pressure on the ecosystems and impacted the survival of native species. Feral goats and pigs have also been known to damage wetlands and bird nests, even eating eggs and chicks.

“This is a long-awaited opportunity for us to reverse the damage done to this ecosystem. We have over 30-years of rigorous science as well as right-way knowledge that informs our conservation work. I can’t wait to get boots on the ground to help revive this landscape,” Axford said.

Ross Mitchell, Aboriginal Partnerships Manager for the North Region, says the potential acquisition also offers Traditional Custodians the chance to reconnect with Country.

“When I first stood on Nil Desperandum I could feel its presence and its power. It’s not my Country, it’s Budjiti Country, but I knew immediately how significant it would be if we purchased it given the endless opportunity for Budjiti Custodians return to Country.”

Bush Heritage and Budjiti Custodians will work together to have cultural camps and connect with schools in the region to ensure cultural knowledge of Country is passed on.

Bush Heritage CEO Rachel Lowry holds high hopes of securing the protection of Nil Desperandum.

“Time and again Bush Heritage have found these incredible parcels of land that are vital to assist landscape scale conservation, and time and again Australians have answered our call for support, helping us step in and purchase to protect these landscapes that needs us most.”

– Rachel Lowry, Bush Heritage CEO

Donate today to help secure the protection and ongoing management of Nil Desperandum.