Sunshine Coast residents are being urged to “rewild” their backyards by planting natives that will attract creatures back to urban areas.
A new environmental group, Backyards for Biodiversity SEQ, has launched in the region to inspire people to re-imagine their properties.
The group actively helps residents and businesses promote biodiversity by planting locally indigenous flora to support local fauna.
Backyards for Biodiversity SEQ president and retired Sunshine Coast Council principal environment officer John Birbeck said the group aimed to make local backyards and the region’s suburbs rich with wildlife again.
“We must think globally and recognise the big issues of climate change and, just as seriously, biodiversity loss, and then act locally,” he said.
“We can bring our nature back. It starts with thinking about ecology.
“Local native plants evolved here in a myriad of colour and forms, with a diversity of wonderful animal life.”
Mr Birbeck said local plants were the first step to improve biodiversity and rebuild a local food web for native wildlife.
“Often our backyards can easily be filled with trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers and flowers,” he said.
“All of these plants, if they have evolved locally, will have a host of invertebrate life that have evolved to eat them.
“If 50 per cent of our residents rewilded 50 per cent of their backyards, nature would be returned to thousands and thousands of hectares across our part of the nation.”
Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.
The group will officially be launched with a community event at Fairhill Native Botanic Gardens and Nursery on September 4.
It will coincide with the start of Biodiversity Month, a national campaign that calls on Australians to admire the country’s wonderful and unique biodiversity and reflect on its fundamental importance.
There will be a range of presentations on backyard biodiversity themes at the group’s launch.
There will also be talks about local plants, frogs and butterflies and suggestions about how to improve your backyard for each of these critters.
Former Noosa Mayor, wildlife photographer, author and nature lover, Tony Wellington, will officially launch the organisation.
The gates at Fairhill will open at 8am, with onsite coffee and breakfast available. Official festivities will start at 9am.
Fairhill is located at 114-132 Fairhill Road, Ninderry. For more information on Backyards for Biodiversity SEQ visit Backyards for Biodiversity SEQ.
