Biodiversity in the backyard

Some of Australia's most biodiverse areas survive around urban centres. For example, there is rich biodiversity in the sandstone country and smooth barked apple forests north of Sydney, NSW, and in the rainforests of the Border Ranges near Brisbane, Queensland. One hundred bush regeneration groups now work in Sydney, with 12 in Brisbane and similar numbers in Canberra (ACT) and Melbourne (Victoria). In Perth, volunteers at the Kings park and Botanic Gardens have restored bushland nearby. Researchers at the gardens have provided information to help restore native vegetation in the Mt Eliza escarpment and the Jarrah and Tuart forests.

There are several major threats to urban biodiversity. Land clearing of course has a substantial impact, as do nutrients. Australia's plant life has adapted to out continent's ancient, low-nutrient soils. When urban bushland is invaded by detergents, sewage overflows and stormwater, these chemicals act as a fertiliser, encouraging weeds to run rampant and suffocate native plants.

Redesign your backyard to welcome back the birds, butterflies, possums and lizards. Plant local natives to attract birds and grow native ground covers such as prostrate Grevillia instead of lawn. Native gardens also need less watering, pesticides and fertilisers. Let your nature strip grow and see the local wildflowers appear.

Provide a refuge from cats and dogs for lizards and small marsupials by placing terracotta pipes around the garden.

Create nesting sites for native birds. A useful guide is The Nestbox Book, published by the Gould League.

Many insect predators lurk in our gardens such as lady beetles, wasps, mantises and spiders. Encourage these by avoiding or limiting use of pesticides.

Make your own environmentally sound bushrocks. Rocks in the bush are important habitats for hundreds of species, particularly lizards and should be left alone. Make your own by painting a clean piece of stone with milk - leave outside and within a few weeks moss starts to grow! Small stones piled in a heap also makes an ideal habitat for lizards and insects.

If you don't have a garden:

Join a bush regeneration group through your local council or National Trust.

Ask your children's school to have an urban bush education day where they discover biodiversity.

Challenge proposed developments which would destroy urban bush or open spaces.

Ensure the firewood you buy is not collected from threatened hardwood forests such as Yellowbox or Mallee.

Use pine plantation residues or even better, switch to gas. One of the biggest threats to rural bird populations is removal of dead trees for firewood, because old trees provide nesting hollows.

This section of my environment web site is based upon a booklet produced by the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Environment Australia. This material can be freely reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided Environment Australia is acknowledged. Their logo appears at the bottom of this page.