Local Biodiversity Strategy

Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life forms, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, as well as the genes they contain and the ecosystems they form (Commonwealth of Australia 1996).

As such, biodiversity is typically explored at three levels: 

1. Genetic diversity
2. Species diversity
3. Ecosystem diversity

Together, these three levels of biodiversity create the complexity of all life on Earth.

The term Local Natural Areas (LNAs) is used throughout the LBS. LNAs refer to areas containing endemic species or ecological communities in a relatively natural state, with an inference of potentially high biodiversity values.

To retain, protect, mange and enhance our local biodiversity we face many challenges. Some of these include:

• land clearing and habitat fragmentation;
• introduced plants (weeds);
• pest animals;
• altered hydrology;
• inappropriate fire regimes;
• diseases;
• inappropriate human use and uncontrolled access; and,
• climate change.

In order to appropriately address these issues and challenges, it is crucial that the city establish a holistic local biodiversity strategy to guide in the planned, systematic and integrated approach.

The City of Kalamunda is well known for its bushland, forests and wildlife. To maintain and enhance the benefits that local biodiversity provides, the City aspires to increase the conservation protection status of 500ha land, including approximately 270 ha of native vegetation.

Broadly, the goals of the LBS are based on the pillars to Retain and Protect, Investigate, Manage and Enhance, Link and Engage. This provides a holistic and strategic approach to achieving our target.

Over 7% of the City's LNAs occur on private land. The LBS seeks to encourage landowners to retain, manage and enhance local biodiversity on their land, and in doing so contribute to the many benefits that native plants, animals and vegetation provide to the community. For example, the City propose to provide environmental education resources and continue to supply native plants through the Plants for Residents Program.

The LBS also seeks to increase the protection, management and consideration of local biodiversity through the planning framework. It is noted that existing vegetation on private land may be protected under State and Commonwealth Government legislation, such as the Environmental Protection Act 1986, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or the Planning and Development Act 2005.

Approximately 1.8% of LNAs mapped within the City occur on City managed land.

To maintain and enhance these benefits to the community, economy and environment, the City aspires to increase the conservation protection status of 500ha land containing over 270 ha of native vegetation. This will be achieved through changing the “purpose” of many of the City’s reserves to include “conservation”, under the Land Administration Act 1997.

The LBS has also identified the City’s reserves which contain the highest biodiversity values in need of ongoing management, which the City will prioritise undertaking site-specific ecological studies and developing and implementing management plans for.