Biodiversity can be defined as the variety of all life forms: the different plants, animals and microorganisms, their genes and the ecosystems of which they are a part. Biological diversity is usually considered at 3 levels: genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity (NSW Biodiversity Strategy).

The plants and animals that make up our biodiversity are necessary for maintaining air quality and climate, fresh water, marine productivity, soils, and assimilating nutrients and wastes. Australian plants and animals attract tourists and provide food, medicines, energy and building materials.

Native plants and animals are a part of our cultural identity. Australia contains over one million different plant and animal species, and has hundreds of ecosystems. A large portion of Australia’s species are found nowhere else in the world (National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biodiversity).

In Strathfield, there are a number of small pockets of remnant vegetation throughout the Municipality and many of these are listed as endangered ecological communities under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. These endangered ecological communities include Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest, Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest and Coastal Saltmarsh.

A number of endangered species are found in Strathfield including, the Green and Golden bell-frog (Litoria aurea) and the Downy Wattle (Acacia pubescens). Mason Park Wetlands in Homebush attracts migratory Wader birds from the Northern Hemisphere through Spring and Summer each year.

For more information about conserving biodiversity and native wildlife please visit:

• The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change
• Royal Botanic Gardens Trust
• The Nature Conservation Council of NSW
• The Australian Network for Plant Conservation
• Sydney Wildlife