Celebrate Biodiversity This Month
Celebrate our region’s unique biodiversity this month – and every month!
Photo taken by Robyn Adam on one of her recent walks with the Heart Foundation Walking Group in Tin Can Bay.
Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms on earth – the different plants, animals, and micro-organisms, and the ecosystems that are their homes.
Biodiversity Month is celebrated every September throughout Australia to promote the importance of connecting with nature and also caring for nature in all its diversity.
We all need nature – but nature also needs us!
Australia is one of only a handful of ‘mega-diverse’ countries – and as we all know many of our plants, animals, and ecosystems are not found anywhere else in the world.
We are extra lucky here on the Cooloola Coast with our unique combination of coastal woodlands, wallum, rainforests, and marine environments all boasting a huge range of native flora and fauna.
Protecting and increasing our biodiversity is something we can all contribute to. Here are some simple suggestions from Gympie Landcare:
- Plant mostly locally native plants in a variety of layers and species to encourage native birds, bees, and pollination. The layers will also provide shelter and habitat for insects, skinks, and lizards.
- Retain or install fallen logs, sticks, leaf litter, and rocks.These provide habitat for native bees, insects, lizards, and small marsupials, as well as a refuge from cats and dogs.
- Provide predator-free water sources for wildlife. Use multiple water bowls in different locations and position them out of reach of predators. Use a saucer with stones and sticks in it so butterflies, bees, and lizards can drink safely.
- Provide nesting sites and hollows for birds, possums, bats etc. Affordable nesting boxes can be purchased from Gympie Landcare, or consider making your own.
- Limit the use of chemicals around the garden to protect our insects. Insects form a critical foundation to our environment’s health.
- Be a responsible pet owner and keep cats inside and dogs contained at night and on leads in nature areas.
Check out gympielandcare.org.au for more information or simply google ‘backyard diversity’ and choose what you can do with your space, whether it is a pot on a balcony or five acres of garden!
