Conserving biodiversity

Conserving our biodiversity
Tips and practices

Biodiversity is the diversity of life in all its forms including plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms. Scientists have always known how important biodiversity is for the sustainability of any ecosystem. Life in all it's diversity also provides many important 'ecosystem services' to humans: it gives us food, clothes, medicines, cleaning and personal products; it produces oxygen; breaks down our rubbish, and cleans up our sewage... to name a few! There are many things that individuals can do to conserve biodiversity for the future.

Create habitat for native animals by planting local native species in your garden
Leave dead wood in the bush and get your plantation firewood from a timber yard. Birds, insects and other invertebrates live in dead trees and logs, collecting firewood from the bush robs them of their homes.
Minimise (or eliminate) use of pesticides and herbicides. If you must use pesticides in the garden, opt for those made from natural ingredients, such as pyrethrum. Birds, frogs and reptiles can become sick or die if they feed on insects sprayed with pesticides.
Look after your cats and dogs: Keep your cats and dogs inside at night, put bells on their collars, and have them de-sexed. Native birds do most of their feeding at night and can easily become extra food for pets.
Join a community group in your local area. Volunteer your time to do on-ground, office or coordination work to help revegetate your local area. Get involved in tree planting, seed collection, weed control and rubbish collection.
Learn about your environment: Visit national parks, botanical gardens or a zoo in your area and learn more about your environment. Take your friends with you.
Care for the bush: Make sure that all campfires and cigarettes are properly extinguished before leaving the bush, and remember to take your rubbish with you.
Be informed before you fish: Find out which species you can take and which you should throw back in. Never take more than the daily quota, take only what you need and leave the undersized ones for another day.
Care for wildlife: Sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife can be helped.
Use timber from sustainably-managed plantation forests. Buy plantation timber instead of native forest timber, if you are building or renovating.
Dispose of garden waste carefully. Weeds, prunings and grass clippings dumped in the bush can introduce or spread weeds.
Take note when travelling overseas. Be careful about what you buy overseas and bring into the country as you may be buying into illegal trade in wildlife.