Preserving biodiversity
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity conservation refers to the conservation of entire communities and maintaining the genetic diversity within it. Measures such as vegetation condition, wetland value and watercourse condition can be used as a guide to measuring biodiversity for the purpose of local government planning.
Why is it important?
Preserving biodiversity has flow on benefits. It assists with provision of fresh water, clean air, soil fertility and reduced pest infestations. If biodiversity is reduced, flow on affects, such as eutrophication, soil erosion and acidity and reduced water quality can result.
There are also social values to biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity may preserve areas of indigenous significance, or community heritage. Areas can help to educate the community on the importance of biodiversity, provide recreational benefits and contain aesthetic values.
The involvement of councils is reinforced by increasing expectations in the community that local government should take a leadership role in the conservation of local biodiversity. Local government is in a good position to transfer conservation management policies into practice and to involve the community in the process.
Biodiversity conservation legislation
There are federal and state legislation in place to protect biodiversity such as the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. There are also individual acts in each state.
