During the month of September, National Biodiversity Month is celebrated across Australia. National Biodiversity Month aims to promote the importance of biodiversity and encourages Australians to connect and care for nature and the country’s biodiversity values.
Although National Biodiversity Month is celebrated during the whole month of September, there are also two key dates within September that relate to National Biodiversity Month – National Wattle Day on the 1 of September and National Threatened Species Day on the 7 of September
What is Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms on earth – the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, their genetics and the ecosystems that are their homes (DCCEEW, 2024).
Biodiversity exists at different scales in the form of regional diversity, ecosystem diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity (Queensland Government, 2025).
Biodiversity is not static and is constantly changing. It is increased by genetic change and evolutionary processes and reduced by processes such as habitat degradation, population decline, and extinction (Queensland Government, 2025)
Australian Unique Biodiversity
Australia contains unique biodiversity values and is one of a group of only 17 ‘mega-diverse’ countries (DCCEEW, 2024). These mega-diverse countries cover less than 10% of the world’s area but have more than 70% of its biodiversity (DCCEEW, 2024).
Globally, there are currently 36 biodiversity hotspots identified around the world – two of which are located in Australia. The Australian biodiversity hotspots are located in the southwest of Western Australia and in Eastern Australia’s coastal forests, ranging from Queensland in the north to the south of New South Wales (FNPW, 2025).
Australia contains unique biodiversity values and is one of a group of only 17 ‘mega-diverse’ countries (DCCEEW, 2024). These mega-diverse countries cover less than 10% of the world’s area but have more than 70% of its biodiversity (DCCEEW, 2024).
Globally, there are currently 36 biodiversity hotspots identified around the world – two of which are located in Australia. The Australian biodiversity hotspots are located in the southwest of Western Australia and in Eastern Australia’s coastal forests, ranging from Queensland in the north to the south of New South Wales (FNPW, 2025).
Why Should Biodiversity Be Acknowledged and Celebrated?
It is important to celebrate biodiversity because of the variety of ecosystem services it provides. Humans receive many benefits from healthy ecosystems – for example, healthy forests provide humans with clean air and oxygen, and pollinators, including bees and other insects, help to ensure that food crops produce adequate seasonal crops. The ecosystem services provided by biodiversity also support key economic industries such as tourism, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, health and infrastructure (Queensland Government, 2025).
Biodiversity also supports human wellbeing. In addition to ecosystem services, spending time out in nature can provide mental and physical health benefits such as reduced blood pressure, improved mood and lowered levels of stress and depression (Queensland Government, 2025).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a deep traditional and cultural connection to biodiversity. Looking after Country is captured in the cultural knowledge systems, songlines and stories passed down from generation to generation, which is integral to identity, lore and culture. Traditional Owners reiterate the importance of conserving biodiversity (Wingaru, 2024; Queensland Government, 2025).
How is Biodiversity Being Protected in Australia?
Due to the increased threats to Australia’s biodiversity, including climate change, pollution, resource extraction, habitat loss and invasive species (CSIRO, 2022), the Australian Government has adopted the “Global Biodiversity Framework”. This framework aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 through four global goals set for 2050 and 23 global targets for 2030. These targets are groups in four broad themes, each aligning with the overarching goals. This includes biodiversity conservation and restoration, nature’s contribution to people, access and benefit sharing and tools and solutions for mainstreaming and implementation. The newly adopted framework will now set the global biodiversity action agenda for the next decade (DCCEEW, 2025a).
Australia will implement the global framework through updating Australia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, currently known as “Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2019-2030”. This is a shared national roadmap for government, non-government and community action to aid in understanding, caring for and managing nature sustainably (DCCEEW, 2024).
“Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2019-2030” has 3 goals:
- Goal 1: Connect all Australians with nature
- Goal 2: Care for nature in all its diversity
- Goal 3: Share and build knowledge.
The action plan includes new national biodiversity targets for the protection and conservation of biodiversity. Work is currently in progress, and key performance indicators and methods for measuring Australia’s progress are being developed (DCCEEW, 2025b).
How Can Industry Assist with Preserving Australia’s Biodiversity?
Industry has a key role to play in the preservation and maintenance of biodiversity in Australia. It has been established that biodiversity is facing increasing threats from climate change, pollution, resource extraction, habitat loss and invasive species (CSIRO, 2022). The following are several initiatives that industry can implement to preserve and maintain biodiversity:
- Engaging stakeholders early and regularly to ensure that historical and traditional knowledge regarding biodiversity in incorporated in planning and operations;
- Minimising clearing impacts by reducing the disturbance footprint required and utilising progressive and ‘as required’ clearing methods;
- Undertaking quality rehabilitation incorporating local and native seed species and incorporating fauna habitat into rehabilitation;
- If utilising environmental offsets, ensuring that quality offsets are adopted that improve local and regional biodiversity;
- Minimising and controlling direct and indirect pollution impacts by incorporating the latest clean technology;
- Ensuring thorough monitoring and management practices are implemented during daily operations, including invasive species control (CSIRO, 2022).
National Biodiversity Month provides an annual reminder of the importance of Australia’s unique biodiversity. By acknowledging and celebrating Australia’s unique biodiversity, while recognising the vital role it plays in supporting ecosystem services essential to human wellbeing and long-term economic growth, Australians on both an individual and organisational level are given a reminder to keep biodiversity awareness in focus.
Integrate Sustainability is experienced in assisting with matters concerning biodiversity. If you require assistance with environmental management solutions or approvals concerning biodiversity values, please get in touch with us at enquiries@integratesustainability.com.au or call us on 08 9468 0338.
ISPL National Biodiversity Month- PDF
References
Adams, K. (2024, April 23). Listening to Indigenous peoples’ knowledge. Monash Lens. https://lens.monash.edu/@medicine-health/2024/04/23/1386647/it-is-time-to-listen-to-indigenous-peoples-knowledge-but-how-do-you-do-that
Conectora. (2020). How to align a business’s objectives with the 2030 Agenda? https://www.conectora.org/2020/06/como-alinear-los-objetivos-de-un.html
CSIRO. (2022, July 22). Expert Commentary: State of the Environment 2021. Retrieved from News: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/News/2022/July/State-of-the-Environment-2021-report-released
DCCEEW. (2024, August 27). Biodiversity Month. Retrieved from Biodiversity: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/biodiversity-month
DCCEEW. (2025a, February 21). Global Biodiversity Framework. Retrieved from UN Convention on Biological Diversity: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/international/un-convention-biological-diversity/global-biodiversity-framework
DCCEEW. (2025b, January 3). Australia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Retrieved from Biodiversity conservation : https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/conservation/strategy
FNPW. (2025). Biodiversity Month. Retrieved from https://fnpw.org.au/biodiversity-month/
Queensland Government. (2025, July 18). What is biodiversity. Retrieved from Biodiversity: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/biodiversity/about
Wingaru. (2024, August 29). National Biodiversity Month. Retrieved from Blog: https://www.wingaru.com.au/blog/national-biodiversity-month