Earlier this year we engaged ecological consultants, Practical Ecology, to create a Biodiversity Inventory & Corridors Study of the municipality.
A total of 54 sites, made up of open space reserves, pocket parks, streetscapes, public gardens and sports ovals, across Stonnington were assessed to understand more about the biodiversity status of our municipality.
Amongst other things, the Study provides Council with:
- the current status of indigenous biodiversity
- our flagship flora and fauna species
- the habitat corridors throughout the municipality
- the best ways to protect and enhance the biodiversity values across the municipality.
The Study will help to inform the way Council works within our urban environment, from our plantings to future strategic land acquisition and building projects. This will improve physical habitats and encourage foraging, nesting, and sheltering for urban wildlife, and ultimately benefit the many native species that share our urban environment.
The importance of habitat connectivity
The Study identified existing areas of habitat connectivity and those with the potential to be enhanced to offer improved habitat connectivity in future.
Habitat connectivity describes the corridors in our landscape for species to move between habitats whilst retaining their natural behaviours.
In our urban environment, habitat connectivity is particularly important to allow native wildlife to move throughout our municipality safely and happily.
These findings will inform priority areas for Council to work on improving habitat connectivity in Stonnington and help local wildlife to thrive.
Meet Stonnington's flagship fauna species
Despite being a highly urbanised municipality, Stonnington is home to a wide variety of species.
The Study identified 12 flagship fauna species to guide specific habitat enhancement strategies.
- Nankeen Night-Heron
- Hardhead
- Powerful Owl
- Gang Gang Cockatoo
- Sacred Kingfisher
- Spotted Pardalote
- Common Blue-tongue Lizard
- Marbled Gecko
- Eastern Common Froglet
- Whistling Tree Frog
- Grey-headed Flying Fox
- Lesser Long-eared Bat
The Aussie Bird Count
Between 17-23 October, can take part in your own biodiversity study and one of Australia's biggest citizen science events, the 2022 Aussie Bird Count.
Simply count the number of birds you see in your yard, balcony or local park over a 20-minute period and submit your observations via the Aussie Bird Count app.
The Biodiversity Inventory & Corridors Study followed an initial biodiversity study conducted in 2007 that has informed projects like the Yarra River Biodiversity Project (2019) and the Gardiners Creek (KooyongKoot) Masterplan (in progress).
One of the key actions identified in our Climate Emergency Action Plan (2021 - 2024), to thrive in a changing climate, is to protect and enhance biodiversity.
