S4. Develop a city-wide biodiversity strategy
Fostering urban biodiversity through metropolitan-wide strategies: Overcoming local government complexities in Melbourne
Local governments are important players in managing public land in cities. There are over thirty local government councils within greater Melbourne, which can generate complexities when coordinating the management of urban biodiversity. Nature is not bound by administrative boundaries; important habitats, watercourses, corridors and threatening processes all demand that we think and work holistically. A metropolitan-wide strategy to guide biodiversity planning can enable actions to occur at a scale that matches the urban ecosystems throughout greater Melbourne.
The strategy would provide approaches for local governments to individually enact on enhancing biodiversity that is aligned to a broader, shared goal to provide metropolitan-wide biodiversity outcomes. For example, habitat connectivity can be restored and enhanced throughout greater Melbourne, whilst key locations that require protection and restoration are identified. This can ensure an environment for human communities to access and enjoy whilst supporting the protection and return of key species.
A metropolitan-wide strategy could provide a basis for securing long-term resources and finance, while highlighting where funds are needed most and at scale. Doing so can mitigate budgetary issues within individual councils that struggle to provide for large-scale restoration actions6. Research of existing urban biodiversity plans around the world have highlighted valuable criteria to guide a metropolitan-wide strategy.