Jaimes Thorpe wrote -

October 23-30 in Western Australia is Conservation Week. This year Conservation Week is all about biodiversity, to coincide with the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity. As part of this, various groups I am involved in will be participating in a range of events across the state, to protect and preserve our diverse landscapes, and to raise awareness in the wider community about environmental issues. If you are interested, you can read more about the Western Australian events on the website http://conservationwa.asn.au

While you can't donate to Australian projects on crowdrise (yet ;), Conservation & Biodiversity are global issues with wide-reaching implications for everybody, so I have set up this fundraiser for the Conservation Lands Foundation in the US so that you can support our work here in Australia with a donation to help protect your own beautiful landscape. Please show your support in any way that you can.

While the first 6 photos to the left are taken from the US Conservation Lands Foundation website, the next 6 photos illustrate the beautiful and diverse landscapes we have in Western Australia. It's a beautiful place, and I urge all of my international crowdrise mates to come for a visit! ♥

1. Forest lakes in the South-West of the state. While in the past much of our beautiful forests have been lost to commercial logging, greater awareness over the past 20+ years has seen many areas preserved for future generations.
2. The Pinnacles - a fascinating and unusual array of limestone spires that rise from the desert floor. It's believed the Pinnacles were created millions of years ago as seashells were broken down into sand and then eroded by water and wind.
3. Geike Gorge in the North-West - while much of Australia is covered in desert, where the rivers make their way inland has created a beautiful series of gorges and waterholes.
4. Rottnest Island, just off the coast of Perth - home of the Quokka, a native animal of Australia that is found ONLY on this one tiny island.
5. Margaret River - surfing mecca for millions around the world (as well as many awesome *hic* vineyards ;)
6. Hills and desert near Newman - this is where I was born, and spent my formative years :) The redness of the dirt is caused by some of the richest Iron Ore deposits in the world, and produces some amazing colours and landscapes which I explored often as a child.