Bio-diversity
Human beings depend for their sustenance, health, well-being and enjoyment of life on biodiversity. We derive all of our food and many medicines and industrial products from the wild and domesticated components of biological diversity. Biodiversity is the basis for much of our recreation and tourism, and includes the ecosystems which provide us with many services such as clean water.

Biodiversity has been described as the ‘web of life’, ‘the variety of living things’ or ‘the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, their genes and ecosystems of which they are a part’.

Biodiversity encompasses every living thing that exists on our planet and the environment in which they live. From the smallest one-cell microbe to the enormous majesty of the blue whale. From the depths of the Pacific Ocean to peaks of our tallest mountains, biodiversity forms part of an intricate and interdependent web of life in which we are all a part.
Source: Extracts from ...  biodiversity month etc... ​
Australia is home to between 600,000 and 700,000 species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. About 84 per cent of our plants, 83 per cent of our mammals, and 45 per cent of our birds are endemic — that is, they are only found in Australia.
The marine environment is home to thousands of marine species, some of which are unique to Australia and all of which contribute to making Australia the most biodiversity-rich developed country in the world. This includes at least 45 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises. 

Local projects

Individual BSFG members participate in and support activities which focus on restoring and enhancing biodiversity. 

​A number of BSFG members have active links to the educational Regent Honey Eater Project in its work to protect, restore and connect significant remnants of native habitat in the Lurg Hills near Benalla.   In late 2018 we posted a wonderful essay 'Why I go treeplanting' by Chanaka (2018) documenting his experiences with the project. 
BSFG members participated in working to restore Winton Wetlands, the largest wetland restoration project in the Southern Hemisphere, and continue to support it in many ways.

Guest Speakers

Speakers at BSFG meetings have included Strathbogie Sustainable Forest Group's Bertram Lobert; and.... ???  Our 2019 AGM guest speaker, Lance Lloyd, Restoration Scientist with the Winton Wetlands Committee of Management gave us a good insight into efforts at Winton Wetlands to bring about the ecological regeneration of the catchment. Past speakers have included Professor Deli Chen on reducing nitrogen emissions from agriculture; 

Film Screenings

BSFG partners with Swanpool Landcare and the Gecko CLaN ​in running the annual Swanpool Environmental Film Festival at the Swanpool Cinema.  Films raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity, usually complemented by presentations by inspirational guest speakers, have included...  (need to edit next sections to add here...)

The 2016 Festival featured three thought provoking films - 'Polyfaces', 'Anthropocene' and 'Tarkine In Motion' - alternating with presentations by inspirational guest speakers, Prof Kate Auty;  'Polyfaces' co-Director Isabella Doherty and Cinematographer Andreas Overdahl; Dr Kerryn Higgs' on  ‘Collision Course: The Growth Delusion’ and Prof Michael Clarke's on ‘Ecological Literacy, ambivalence and inspiration’.

The 2017 Festival featured   'The Age of Stupid' featuring Peter Postlethwaite; ‘The Age of Consequences‘ and ‘The Bentley Effect‘. The films were interspersed between guest speakers Julian Cribb on ‘Surviving the 21st Century’; Dr Richard David Hames on ‘Burying the 20th Century’ and Prof Sharon Beder, on ‘Business-Managed Democracy’

The 2018 Festival featured Dr Samuel Alexander and film ‘Living in the Futures Past’: Dr Charles Massy, author of 'The Cry of the Reed Warbler' and film ‘Living the Change’; a Guest Panel chaired by Kate Auty featuring Dr Ian Herbert; Bertram Lobert, Shirley Saywell and speakers from the Strathbogie Forests group who took action at the Barjarg coupe ...

​The 2019 Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2019 (PG) was held on Saturday 15 June from 1pm to 9:40pm.:
Session One: Dr Tilman Ruff and film ‘System Error’
Session Two: Professor Samantha Hepburn and Short Enviro Film Fest
Session Three: Professor Tim Reeves and film ‘2040’.
Catering by Swanpool Catering Team volunteers once again sustained Festival audiences during breaks providing opportunities for audience members to network and catch up with friends.     Read more about the 2019 festival...

How can I help protect biodiversity? 

​There are many ways in which we can help protect biodiversity in our local area.
  • Create a natural habitat in your backyard or on your farm.
  1. Look at plants that are native to your region and help create a backyard sanctuary for local birds and wildlife.   Some plants native to Benalla and environments include - 
  2. If you are farming, think about introducing regenerative farming processes - ; also think about how dam's can be protected to maximise/retain biodiversity... 
  • Get rid of weeds. What seems like a perfectly harmless plant can turn into a noxious weed if it jumps your back fence and heads into bushland. Check out what's considered a weed in your part of the country at Weeds in Australia (link is external)  Some weeds identified in Benalla include - 
  • Be a responsible pet owner. If you can no longer keep your pet do not release it into the wild. This includes pet fish — do not flush them down the toilet or put them into local streams. Make sure your cat is de-sexed and either keep it indoors or invest in an outdoor cat run — domestic cats can have a devastating effect on local wildlife.  Benalla Council policy on feral cats?  
  • Reduce, reuse and recycle. Look at ways to reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfill and the waterways. Many things can now be recycled. For more information on what you can recycle in your local area go to Recycling Near You (link is external) or Waste and recycling  Local recycling information?
  • Understand Benalla's composting bin system, or even start your own compost bin. Organic matter like vegetable peelings which usually ends up landfill is great for your garden. Start composting and you can reduce the need for chemicals and fertilizers in the garden and improve the health of your soil.  Local Green Bin information: 
  • Only put water down the drains. Things like oils and chemicals may start at the kitchen sink but end up in our waterways and seas and can affect animals and plants living in streams and rivers. Instead of using commercial cleaning chemicals try using white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
  • Be an informed seafood eater. Don’t eat threatened fish species. To find out what species you should avoid at the fish market go to Find a Fish — FishNames.com.au (link is external)   What to ask for locally? fish shops/supermarkets??
  • Understand what you can and can’t take with you when you travel. Some tourist souvenirs and items you buy over the internet are made from or contain derivatives of plants and animals. If you are bringing plants or animals into or out of Australia, go to Information for travellers and online shoppers beforehand.  Any local issues here?  
  • When you’re sailing, don't get too close to whales and dolphins. Worldwide, whales, dolphins and porpoises face many threats, from being directly hunted to being caught in fishing nets. Ship strike, pollution, climate change, ocean noise, tourism, discarded fishing gear or other rubbish may also affect the population. They can also be loved to death by overenthusiastic whale watchers. To find out more about how to help, go to Whales, dolphins and porpoises.   Benalla/local waterway issues?  
  • Join and support local biodiversity initiatives, take part in citizen science projects and bird watching recording.... 
​
*Source - Department of .... Bidoversity Month -...accessed 12 October 2020

Resources





​Could be used....???
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What is the Australian Government doing to protect biodiversity?The Australian Government’s national environment law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, promotes the conservation of biodiversity by providing strong protection for threatened species and ecological communities, migratory, marine and other protected species.
For further information go to About the EPBC Act.
The Australian Government has recognised the role of biodiversity in tackling climate change, and the need to make it central to climate change policies affecting land management. The Government’s Clean Energy Future package includes funding to complement and build upon the Australian Government’s existing natural resource management activities.
The Australian Government is looking at biodiversity from a number of angles. From research through to wildlife corridors, there are a range of programs aimed at protecting Australia’s unique biodiversity.
For more information on biodiversity and related programs go to Biodiversity.
Biodiversity is everyone’s business and all Australians have a role to play in protecting our rich biodiversity. If you’d like more information on biodiversity measures in Victoria, go to: Victoria(link is external)

Transcript of the video

Biodiversity - What is it?

As humans, we depend on biodiversity for sustenance, health, well-being and enjoyment of life.
Biodiversity is 'the web of life' and 'the variety of living things'. It's all around us.
It's in our bushland. It's in our waterways and oceans. It's in our towns and cities.
September is Biodiversity month.

Find out more about how you can help protect our biodiversity at environment.gov.au/biodiversity/biodiversity-month
Education for sustainability develops the knowledge, skills, values and world views necessary for people to act in ways that contribute to more sustainable patterns of living.   It enables individuals and communities to reflect on ways of interpreting and engaging with the world. 

Sustainability education is futures-oriented, focusing on protecting environments and creating a more ecologically and socially just world through informed action.   Actions that support more sustainable patterns of living require consideration of environmental, social, cultural and economic systems and t