Biodiversity
is not just a trendy buzz-word, it is the term for the web of life we
depend upon. It includes the millions of species of living beings
(microbes, fungi, plants, animals and humans) which inhabit the surface
of the planet. Dr Harry Recher who chaired the National Biodiversity
Council estimated that we are losing 8 species an hour or about
70,000 a year worldwide due to human activities. We cannot afford to
go on like this. Apart from the unknown effects of this loss on the
whole biosphere, from a purely selfish point of view, some of these
species could be very useful to us as food or medicine.
If you would like to do something locally to help to preserve our biodiversity here are some suggestions:
- Make sure pet cats and dogs are desexed, kept indoors at night and attach bells to warn wildlife.
- Use natural Australian plant disinfectants like Eucalyptus and Teatree oils
- Build a compost heap. Shred and compost garden weeds rather than dumping them in the bush.
- Make your garden a haven for native plants and birds. Native species need less water, pesticides and fertilizers.
- Drive slowly at dawn and dusk, and where trees grow close to the road. Too many native animals are killed on our roads.
- Create a small bird habitat haven in your garden.
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