Northern Star and the Foundation for the WA Museum have announced a two-year research partnership with the WA Museum to accelerate knowledge and conservation efforts for two endangered WA Butterflies: Jalmenus aridus and Ogyris petrina.
The collaboration will support targeted research, monitoring and public engagement to inform recovery actions for these threatened species.
“Industry partnerships are vital to the work of the Western Australian Museum, and its scientific impact. By supporting this project, and the ground-breaking work of Rod Eastwood, Northern Star and the Foundation for the WA Museum are directly contributing to our understanding and conservation of these threatened species. Western Australia is an enormous state throughout which conservation challenges such as this play out every day. Northern Star is playing its part in meeting these and we are delighted, through our Foundation, to be working with them”.
Alec Coles, CEO WA Museum.
“Northern Star proudly invests in our communities through strategic partnerships that deliver sustainable benefits and create long-lasting, positive impacts for people today and for future generations.
Protecting Western Australia’s unique biodiversity is important, and this partnership reflects our commitment to science that delivers real, lasting impact. By supporting the Foundation’s research into these rare butterfly species, we’re helping build the knowledge needed to guide effective conservation across the state.
This collaboration brings industry, science and community together to safeguard species found nowhere else on Earth, and we’re proud to contribute to research that strengthens the resilience of WA’s natural heritage”.
Joanne McDonald, Joint Company Secretary, Northern Star Resources.
A targeted science program with real impact
Led by WA Museum Research Associate Rod Eastwood, the project will combine intensive field surveys, genetic sampling and analysis to map population hotspots, inform population connectivity and uncover new insights into the evolutionary history of both species. Recent surveys by Rod have already produced important discoveries about the distribution and biology of these butterflies, prompting this investment to answer critical conservation questions.
Strengthening WA’s biodiversity resilience
This partnership propels biodiversity knowledge across Western Australia, turning early discoveries into high-impact science and clear policy actions. The project will help provide tools for regulators, land managers and conservationists, improving survey accuracy, shaping conservation strategy, and reducing extinction risk for these rare endemic butterflies. Public programming will broaden awareness of extinction threats and inspire local conservation.
“The Foundation for the WA Museum is committed to enabling research that safeguards our natural heritage, this project exemplifies that mission”.
Foundation CEO, Coralie Bishop.
Next steps
Fieldwork, genetic sampling and analysis begin immediately. Results will be shared with DBCA, land managers and the broader community, and disseminated through public programming and scientific publications over the two-year program.
The collaboration will support targeted research, monitoring and public engagement to inform recovery actions for these threatened species.
“Industry partnerships are vital to the work of the Western Australian Museum, and its scientific impact. By supporting this project, and the ground-breaking work of Rod Eastwood, Northern Star and the Foundation for the WA Museum are directly contributing to our understanding and conservation of these threatened species. Western Australia is an enormous state throughout which conservation challenges such as this play out every day. Northern Star is playing its part in meeting these and we are delighted, through our Foundation, to be working with them”.
Alec Coles, CEO WA Museum.
“Northern Star proudly invests in our communities through strategic partnerships that deliver sustainable benefits and create long-lasting, positive impacts for people today and for future generations.
Protecting Western Australia’s unique biodiversity is important, and this partnership reflects our commitment to science that delivers real, lasting impact. By supporting the Foundation’s research into these rare butterfly species, we’re helping build the knowledge needed to guide effective conservation across the state.
This collaboration brings industry, science and community together to safeguard species found nowhere else on Earth, and we’re proud to contribute to research that strengthens the resilience of WA’s natural heritage”.
Joanne McDonald, Joint Company Secretary, Northern Star Resources.
A targeted science program with real impact
Led by WA Museum Research Associate Rod Eastwood, the project will combine intensive field surveys, genetic sampling and analysis to map population hotspots, inform population connectivity and uncover new insights into the evolutionary history of both species. Recent surveys by Rod have already produced important discoveries about the distribution and biology of these butterflies, prompting this investment to answer critical conservation questions.
Strengthening WA’s biodiversity resilience
This partnership propels biodiversity knowledge across Western Australia, turning early discoveries into high-impact science and clear policy actions. The project will help provide tools for regulators, land managers and conservationists, improving survey accuracy, shaping conservation strategy, and reducing extinction risk for these rare endemic butterflies. Public programming will broaden awareness of extinction threats and inspire local conservation.
“The Foundation for the WA Museum is committed to enabling research that safeguards our natural heritage, this project exemplifies that mission”.
Foundation CEO, Coralie Bishop.
Next steps
Fieldwork, genetic sampling and analysis begin immediately. Results will be shared with DBCA, land managers and the broader community, and disseminated through public programming and scientific publications over the two-year program.
