Biodiversity in Western Australia
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life forms, the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems they form.
Western Australia is home to some of the most unique biodiversity on Earth which can be attributed to the size of the state, its age and isolation and the range of geographical, soil and climatic conditions that are found throughout. Terrestrial ecosystems range from rainforest, savanna woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, heathlands, tall forests, woodlands and wetlands. Our marine environments include coral reefs, intertidal mangrove forests, seagrass beds, sandy beaches, coastal salt marshes, rocky shores, algal reefs and kelp forests.
An increasing population in Western Australia is leading to urban sprawl, particularly in the Perth metropolitan region and in regional centres in the South West. As a consequence our unique biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate. The biodiversity of an area is highly dependant on the amount and distribution of vegetation and resultant habitats within an area. If we destroy the natural environment in an area we will also lose the biodiversity that is supported by it.
Why protect biodiversity?
Biodiversity is important to humans for many reasons. It provides services which we often take for granted, for example, drinkable water, clean air and fertile soils. A loss of biodiversity from an ecosystem can upset its normal function and disrupt these ecological services. Biodiversity has intrinsic, cultural, educational and recreational value.
Many people depend on biodiversity and other natural resources for their livelihoods, people in cities depend on biodiversity for their well-being. Imagine a city with no bushland, parks or nature strips. No trees, no birds or insects, just people, cars and buildings - it wouldn't be a very nice place to live.
Why is my backyard important?
Development in urban areas can fragment patches of bushland which ultimately has an impact on the biodiversity of an area. However these patches of bushland are important as many birds and animals are able to move through urbanised areas to areas of remnant native vegetation.
Creating suitable habitat or biodiversity in backyards and open spaces can provide local wildlife with increased opportunities to survive within these altered landscapes.
During Conservation Week, the Biodiversity in our Backyard Project will use a simple surevy to investigate some of the factors that may be used to enhance backyard biodiversity such as
- the amount of native vegetation (shrubs and trees) in the garden
- the age of the suburb
- the distance to retained bushland or vegetation corridors
- the historical use of organochlorine pesticides or exposure to other contaminants
- pets as predators