WSWA Conference Presentation – Anstey-Keane Damplands – David James

David James was born in Armadale in 1951 and has lived all his life near Lake Forrestdale. Since childhood, David has had a close connection to the lake, as well as Anstey-Keane Dampland, and the many swamps in and around Forrestdale. These are the places he loved to explore while he was growing up.

David is President of the Friends of Forrestdale, a member of the Wildflower Society of WA and the Jandakot Regional Park (JRP) Advisory Committee.

The Friends of Forrestdale are committed to the protection of Anstey-Keane Dampland and led a successful campaign to stop a road being built through the reserve. Part of the JRP and Bush Forever site 342, Anstey-Keane Dampland is a large reserve that contains many unique plant communities and is a haven for wildlife. Because of the reserve’s rich biodiversity, it provides ample opportunity for education, recreation and, most important, appreciation of the natural world.

David has always had a love of the natural environment and when he was young, he never imagined that the very existence of these precious natural areas would one day come under threat. For most of his adult life he has championed their protection.

The presentation will be about Anstey-Keane Dampland and the new book about the reserve: A Wild Heritage – Reflections on the Anstey-Keane Dampland.