Through a lens, Jaru man Donny Imberlong has seen the changing Kimberley landscape over two decades.

Going by the Instagram name of @donnydrysdale, Mr Imberlong's passions are the bush and taking photos of the bush.

"My grandparents and I started looking after the Country, doing small burns after the wet season to avoid the intense hot bush fires that incinerate everything," he said.

"I didn't realise until years later, taking photos over time, how much the Country has changed."

One of the changes he noticed was that there was fewer Cypress Pine trees.

The ancient trees are integral to the area's unique ecosystem and rich cultural heritage, now at risk due to climate change and environmental stressors.

The Kimberley Ecosystem Restoration and Cypress Pine Conservation Project, founded by Mr Imberlong, is dedicated to reversing this decline and fortifying the region's natural resilience.

His work has landed him a $5000 Canon Oceania First Nations grant, which will help advance the Project and document the journey using Canon's imaging technology.

Mr Imberlong, who is also a member of the Indigenous Advisory Board of the Conservation Council of WA, will bring this story to life, highlighting the deep connection between the land and its history, and inspiring future generations to engage in conservation efforts.

"I do it because I love it, and it does feel good to be recognised by other people, I'm honoured," said Mr Imberlong.

"This grant not only validates my commitment to Cypress Pine regeneration, but also empowers me to further my work in preserving our natural heritage in the Kimberley region.

"From the air, you used to see forests of pine, big patches of dark green all throughout the landscape, and in the space of 30 or 40 years, they're almost gone.

"Controlled burns and fires at wrong time of year, an increase in cane grass, and an increase in fuel has resulted in the pine being wiped out every year."

Mr Imberlong said a key to looking after Country is local knowledge.

"Near Halls Creek where we are from, we know where the creeks are, we do smaller burns about half the size of a football oval which breaks up the fuel load, not massive kilometres of fire in one day," he said.

"We burn earlier in the season when there's 50 per cent dry grass and 50 per cent wet grass, which is less intense, burning the dead plant matter but leaving the new growth, saplings and some seed deposits.

"Now, along the Drysdale River banks, there's a lot more flora biodiversity – it used to be spinifex and wattle that blanketed the landscape, but now there's more eucalypts, fruit, soft plants and a lot more.

"I'm starting to consciously document a digital footprint, and for Country to recover, it takes time, it's been about 20 years," said Mr Imberlong.

Mr Imberlong has used the grant to purchase a Canon EOS R7 camera and plans to purchase a tripod.