Celebrating our Biodiversity
19 September 2024
September is Biodiversity Month in Australia.
It’s a time to celebrate our unique wildlife and ecosystems by connecting with nature and caring for the amazing variety of species found here.
The biodiversity of an area doesn’t just benefit the native species that live there – it's vital for human health and wellbeing too.
So, what is ‘biodiversity’?
Biodiversity encompasses every living thing on the planet and the environment in which they live.
Importantly, it also refers to the range of species in an area – the plants, animals, insects and micro-organisms – and the more kinds of species there are, the more ‘biodiversity’ exists in the environment.
Australia is considered a ‘mega-diverse’ country, with so much of our flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world.
Above: Moodjar (Nuytsia floribunda) are an iconic species only found in Western Australia and are prolific in the Park.
Part of something big
Whiteman Park sits within the South West Australia Ecoregion – one of 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots.
Here at the Park, we manage over 2,000 hectares of Swan Coastal Plain bushland classified as ‘Bush Forever’, which is home to an amazing array of native plants and animals, that includes:
- three native fish species and the Vulnerable Carter's mussel
- nine amphibian species
- 16 mammal species, including one Critically Endangered, one Endangered and four Priority species
- 38 reptile species, two of which are classed as Near Threatened
- 122 bird species, including one Critically Endangered, three Endangered, one Vulnerable and one Priority species
- over 400 plant species, including four Priority species
- over 40 fungi species.
We work hard to keep this local biodiversity hotspot healthy.
Above: Bulgalla / firewood banksia (Banksia menziesii) in Whiteman Park. Banksia woodlands are a Threatened Ecological Community on the Swan Coastal Plain.
Endangered communities
While the southwest of WA is a Global Biodiversity Hotspot, full of unique flora and fauna, many of these species and ecosystems are in peril.
The entire Park is classified as an Environmentally Sensitive Area due to the presence of the three Bush Forever Sites, Swan Coastal Plain wetlands, Threatened Ecological Communities and more.
The banksia woodlands are a nationally listed Threatened Ecological Community, one which we work to restore through revegetation, weed management and the reintroduction and conservation of important fauna species. They are all pieces of the puzzle that work together to revive our regional biodiversity and the health of our local ecosystems.
Above: Looking south-west over Bennett Brook, a system of Swan Coastal Plain wetlands
Restoring biodiverse ecosystems
We are working hard to restore areas of the Park affected by past land uses and clearing. From planting thousands of native seedlings and trees each year in our banksia woodlands, to focussing on providing future black cockatoo feeding habitat and working to revive our wetland areas, the team manages the Park’s bushland for all species, large and small.
While it is an ongoing process, we do this by improving the floral (plant) diversity, planting native species in the Park’s bushland that can tolerate the effects of climate change, and returning critical fauna (animal) species to the area, who play important roles in the Park’s ecosystem.
It’s what our environmental team is working on every day – all while maintaining spaces for people to enjoy and connect with nature.
Saving our species
Sadly, Australia is leading the world in mammal extinctions, as they suffer the combined impacts of habitat loss, predation and resource competition from introduced species… and now climate change to top it all off.
One such 'at risk' species is the woylie, or brush-tail bettong. With less than 3,000 animals estimated to be left in the wild, these Critically Endangered marsupials are surviving – and thankfully thriving – in protected sanctuaries around our state, like our own Woodland Reserve.
The team have also been busily building, buying and installing nest boxes, or artificial hollows, of various sizes, to help support the many hollow-dependant species that reside in the Park. The take-up is often very quick, meaning the work is critical to the many birds, mammals and reptiles who are using them.
Above: from construction, to installation to adoption, the different sized nest boxes being installed in the Park are a welcome and needed addition.
How are we celebrating Biodiversity Month?
In recent weeks, three new species have been added to our records: two orchids and a new duck, the musk duck. These additions are exciting finds, even if they are just that – finds. The species may have been in the Park this whole time or visited the area in the past in the case of the musk duck. Nonetheless, it is always a joy to discover just how many species are found in the protection afforded by the large expanse of the Park’s bush.
The team has also been making the most of spring’s abundance of fauna activity to add to our photo library, so we can share more of the lesser known or seen reptiles, insects and birds with you all!
Above: A new addition to the Park's flora species list is the tiny sugar orchid (Eriksonella saccharata)
What can you do?
It isn't just up to land managers and conservationists to protect our native species for the future. You, at home, can help these threatened species yourself with just a few, easy actions.
Did you know one of the easiest things you can do to help threatened species and our unique biodiversity is to be a responsible pet owner?
Keeping your furry friends indoors and investing in a secure cat run for outdoor play will make a huge impact on saving our precious wildlife. As a bonus, it will also keep your pet healthier, as research suggests that it will save you money on vet bills in the long run!
Unfortunately, even the most docile pet cats can have a huge impact on our native wildlife, both through predation (which for cats is just as often skills hunting, rather than 'eating') and the parasites they naturally carry that our native species are not immune to. Keeping them indoors, or contained in secure cat runs, reduces their threat to our wildlife.
With an estimated 61% of native vegetation having been cleared on the Swan Coastal Plain1, it is no wonder that some species are suffering from a shortage of habitat or food.
Our iconic black cockatoos, in particular, need places to eat, sleep and nest. Providing garden forage trees is a simple way to help these and many more species survive.
Check out NatureLink Perth and ReWild Perth where you will find some excellent resources for improving your biodiversity at home and some examples from the team below.
We have all been feeling the effects of climate change causing increasingly hot and longer summers in recent year. And just like you need to keep yourselves and your pets hydrated, your local wildlife will appreciate a fresh bowl of water left out for them, where they can seek the respite of a cooling drink when the weather heats up.
Just remember a few pointers:
💧 Keep it fresh
💧 Add sticks or stones to allow flying insects and small critters an escape route if they get waterlogged
💧 Where possible, leave your water point in the shade and away from potential predators.
Both Birdlife Australia’s Birds in Backyards and ReWild Perth have great information on creating water points in your own yard too. Your neighbourhood birds and insects will definitely appreciate your efforts!
Check out some of the frog ponds and water bowls that feature in our team's backyards below.
We know that time in green spaces reduces stress and can be quite restorative, but getting out in your local native bushland will also help you understand and appreciate just how many different species live amongst us, some of which may surprise you!
Another great way to connect with your local environment is to get involved in some citizen science programs. September’s Biodiversity Month is quickly followed by Birdlife Australia’s Aussie Bird Count in October and FrogID Week in November, which are both easy projects to get involved in! All you need is a smartphone, the relevant app, and as little as 20 minutes of your time.
Above: native plantings feature in many of our team's front and backyards as we do our bit to improve urban biodiversity.
Above: Some frog ponds and water bowls that feature in our team's backyards.
Why not take some time out of explore the wonders of our natural areas and see how many different plants, animals and insects you can see, and get a sense of the Park’s rich variety of life for yourself.
1 Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water