Businesses for Biodiversity SEQ
Backyards for Biodiversity SEQ exists to promote both the importance and potential of urban areas for biodiversity in south-east Queensland. Across our urban areas we plan to improve and expand native biodiversity.
Our aim is to educate residents as to the beauty and environmental value of our plants and wildlife and to the ways that nature can enrich their lives.
We will actively support and encourage residents and businesses to implement practical strategies to encourage biodiversity; especially, to plant locally indigenous flora to support our local fauna.
We also hope to collaborate with local government to increase their awareness of the importance of biodiversity within the lands that they manage and to implement management practices that protect and enhance biodiversity.
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Business has a role to play in biodiversity
We want your business to become a Business for Biodiversity!You can join Backyards for Biodiversity SEQ Inc as a ‘Business for Biodiversity’ for a one-off charge of $200.To be a Business for Biodiversity you should do, or be working towards, the following:
- Grow local native plants – minimum ten species.
- Provide local native flowering & fruiting plants
- Provide clean water – Ensure that you have at least ONE of the following: Bird bath, Frog Pond, Butterfly Puddling Area, Rain Garden
- Provide species specific shelter – Ensure that you have at least TWO of the following: Bird nest box, Possum Box, Bat Box, Native Bee Hive, Solitary Bee Hotel, Insect Hotel, Brush or log pile, Rock pile or dry rock wall, Thick mulch piles, Compost bins, Frog ponds, Rain garden, Variety of planted ground covers, Lawn replaced with native tussock grasses, Wildflower meadow patch, Planted vines, Beetle Mound.
- Control weed plant species and remove or limit lawn
- Embrace some mess for example: ‘Maintain’ an un-mowed patch or have a log or brush pile
- Enclose pets and control pests
- Avoid use of chemicals when controlling pests or other uses
- Learn about and celebrate nature!
Try to do ALL of the following:
- Take photos before and after your new native planted areas.
- Share with your family, friends and neighbours and customers!
- Talk up the beauty and fascination of nature!
What's in it for me?
As a ‘Business for Biodiversity’ you will receive the following:·
An attractive and colourful ‘Business for Biodiversity SEQ’ sign· An attractive and colourful ‘Business for Biodiversity SEQ’ sticker·
An A3 colour poster – 10 Principles of Backyards for Biodiversity SEQ
Additional copies·
Signs – A$20·
Stickers – A$4·
A3 Poster - $8
In addition, you will be listed on our website as a ‘Business for Biodiversity’ with your contact details and your business type.
For an additional $250* we will develop a biodiversity makeover report for your property offering plans for your property. The report will suggest local native plant species and approximate numbers [and costs], exotic and/or weed species to be removed, lawn that can most easily be replaced plus suggestions for other features such as nest boxes, ponds, etc.
We can also suggest professional landscapers who can create your ‘Business for Biodiversity SEQ’. We will ‘celebrate’ your ‘biodiversity makeover’ via our blog and Social Media pages after your first 12 months of membership
*Depending on the size of the property this price could be increased.
We need all sectors of our communities to recognise biodiversity loss as both a serious and pressing issue. Businesses can assist residents and government by ensuring that the potential biodiversity of their lands are realised.
To recognise this potential, it is as simple as returning local native plants – in numbers and diversity – to establish the base of an ecology. Diversity of local native plants should be measured by both a diversity of local native plant species and a variety of plant forms [trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, herbs]. In many cases this will be simply planting tube stock. In others, replacing exotic plants and lawn.
Local native plants have evolved in unison with local native insects – both plants and ‘bugs’ are good measures for a re-establishing ecology.