Biodiversity management

Chapter 5: Biodiversity management

The Biodiversity chapter focuses on managing local, native biodiversity on-farm. This includes identifying areas of biodiversity, especially those of special importance, on your property and then considering practices that control, manage or minimize any potential impacts on them.

Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms: the different plants, animals, fish, birds, insects and microorganisms, their genes and the ecosystems of which they are a part. Biodiversity is increasingly being recognised for its contribution to farm sustainability and productivity.

Note that within each chapter the guidelines provide information and guidance on the following:

• the priority environmental management issues of concern;
• how a business can assess the associated environmental risks;
• practices that are recommended for addressing the identified risks; and
• suggestions for monitoring and recording to demonstrate that environmental management outcomes are being met.