Every September, Australia celebrates Biodiversity Month – a time to recognise the incredible variety of life on our planet and the vital role nature plays in our everyday lives.
Nature gives us the essentials we need to survive – food, clean water, air, and shelter. It also supports our health, wellbeing, and economy. While we rely on nature, it also relies on us to protect and care for it.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of all living things – plants, animals, micro-organisms, and the ecosystems they call home. Australia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, supporting nearly 600,000 native species, many of which are found nowhere else.
Ways to celebrate and take action
There are many ways you can get involved this Biodiversity Month, big or small. Here are some ideas:
Visit the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for ideas and resources. This includes downloading the iNaturalist app to record observations of nature and improve your own knowledge and connect with experts and other enthusiasts.
The NSW governments ‘Saving our Species’ program is getting behind Biodiversity month asking us all to ‘Act for Biodiversity’ with some great resources and ideas to help protect our threatened species. Jump onto their website to join a citizen science project; sign up to the Saving our Species newsletter; or download free activities and resources.
Flying foxes are considered the most important animal for the survival of our eucalypt and rainforest ecosystems. Flying Foxes spread pollen and disperse seeds, and this process is crucial to the survival of Australia’s eucalypt and rainforest ecosystems which are home to a diverse community of insects, animals plants and fungi. A single flying fox can disperse up to 60,000 seeds in one night. This process helps ensure the health of our native trees and forests, and many species of fruit-bearing trees. Learn about our local flying fox camp or join Frankie’s Fan club for great localised facts and figures, educational resources and to sign up to the Frankie Fan club newsletter!
Add local native plants to your garden to help create a backyard sanctuary for local birds and wildlife. You can explore Council’s Native Plant of the Month articles on our ConnectEd platform or visit your local Landcare to learn more about plants native to your region..
Become a weed warrior and learn how to identify weeds. Understand how weeds are classified and how we can all take part in managing them correctly. Check out ConnectEd’s Weed of the Month, search for weeds on NSW Weedwise website
Register to attend a a free Council tour. Learn how we manage water and wastewater in our region to meet community needs while protecting biodiversity.
Explore Council’s waste resources:
- Waste and Recycling information on council’s Website
- ConnectEd Waste Blog “Keeping problem waste out of landfill“
- Educational online resource for kids – Waste Warriors
or register for a community waste tour to discover how small changes can make a big difference.
By taking part, you’ll not only celebrate biodiversity but also help ensure our unique plants and animals continue to thrive for generations to come.
