L9. Choose a target species to enhance their habitat
Empowering biodiversity by defining key species in urban environments
It can be difficult to look at a built-up area or a very European park design and imagine a biodiverse indigenous landscape. One clever way to kickstart your thinking – and bring your stakeholders along with you – is to work with your community and fellow council teams to define a handful of species that will be brought back or supported by council’s actions. Of course, these aren’t the only species that matter, but they can help guide narratives and thinking about what the structure, density and composition of your future planting might look like, as well as where you might put it. More broadly, the definition of these species is an exciting, optimistic exercise to participate in, and can help build support for the idea that our streets and open spaces should be designed not only for us, but also for the flora and fauna that belong here too.
Case Study Fishermans Bend Urban Ecology Strategy: Biodiversity Report
“Of the twelve shortlisted species presented at the stakeholder workshop, five were chosen as biodiversity targets to guide biodiversity planning and design. These were superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus), growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), blue-banded bee (Amigella spp.), brolga (Grus rubicunda)and blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scinoides) . Participants also proposed two additional taxa during the workshop: fungi, and white mangrove (Avicennia marina). Given these seven species’ various resource requirements, their return to and persistence in Fishermans Bend will serve as an indicator that the overall biodiversity objectives have been achieved.”- Kirk et al., 2021.
More information on species and how their needs are useful can be found here.