Why garden for wildlife?

Our native fauna – birds, mammals, and invertebrates – are in decline. The independent, university-based Biodiversity Council describes the situation as a biodiversity crisis. Much of our fauna is endemic and we have the distinction of being one of the worst countries for the extinction of our plants and animals.

The inertia of all three levels of government to reverse this trend is appalling. We have the evidence right under our noses.

Left: Waterford Rise Warragul                          Right: Buln Buln Rd Drouin

The Australian government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act currently has over 600 animal species on its threatened list. 145 of them are classed as critically endangered, described as ‘species at an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.’

There is a growing grass-roots (pun intended) movement of habitat gardeners determinedly working to reverse the trend – see links at the end of this post.

Habitat gardening involves creating a garden that provides food, water, and shelter for our indigenous wildlife. Even a tiny native habitat garden – a pot on a balcony with a correa in it – will often go some way to attracting some native birds, bees, or butterflies. A tiny habitat garden will often provide a stepping stone, a connection for wildlife to access perhaps a nearby park or reserve. These connections help ensure genetic diversity.

Native Blue-banded Bees and Superb Fairy-wrens often inhabit a native garden

There is a certain level of pleasure watching native fauna inhabit a wildlife garden – to watch a Blue-banded Bee using its rather special buzz-pollination technique to extract pollen from a flower – is a mood-elevating experience. Who doesn’t enjoy seeing a tiny flash of blue as a Superb Fairy-wren dashes between shrubs?

Habitat gardening is not just good for the animals; it is good for the gardener too.

A few online references for some inspiration:

Gardens For Wildlife Victoria - a network of community members and council/shire officers across Victoria.

Backyard Buddies – an initiative of the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife.

WIRES – Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service

The Nature Conservancy Australia – a global non-profit body working to conserve nature

Sustainable Gardening Australia – aims to inspire individuals, communities, and organisations to garden sustainably.

Native Plant Project - The best of Australia’s gardens to inspire your own native plant project large or small.

Australian Native Plant Society – Garden designing with Australian plants.

Try searching various Shire Council websites using the term ‘wildlife garden’ – except BBSC!

More posts on this topic to follow.