Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government

• Intrinsic and social values;
• Regulation of climate (moderation of temperature extremes and the forces of wind
and waves, rainfall).
(Adapted from New South Wales State of Environment Report 2000 (Environmental Protection
Authority (EPA) 2000)).
This means that
CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY = CONSERVING OUR OWN SPECIES
FOR THE FUTURE
FOR THE FUTURE
Many benefits are intangible or not easily measured. Natural capital/resources have been
traditionally undervalued or not given an economic value (EPA 1995; Davidson 2000 quoted in
EPA 2000). A report by the World Resources Institute (Constanza et al. 1997 quoted in NPWS
1999) values the ‘free’ ecosystem services at over $33 trillion to the global economy annually.
Costs of not protected biodiversity may be easier to quantify, for example the cost of lost
agricultural productivity as a result of weeds that is estimated to cost Australia $3.3 billion per
year (Commonwealth of Australia 1997). Benefits such as aesthetic amenity and intrinsic value
remain hard to quantify but are strongly expressed by the community.
At the national level, Australia has a high number of endemic species and a great diversity of
ecosystems. It is estimated that there are nearly a million species (NPWS quoted in EPA 2000)
and that the vast majority of these are insects and invertebrates (44%) and fungi (44%) (Prime
Minister’s Science Council 1992 quoted in EPA 2000). However, it has been estimated that only
15% of these species have been formally described (EPA 2000). Vertebrates represent a mere
1.5% of this total number of species.
Despite this rich diversity, there are real reasons for concern. The first national State of the
Environment Report identified the loss of biological diversity as "perhaps our most serious
environmental problem. Whether we look at wetlands or saltmarshes, mangroves or bushland,
inland creeks or estuaries, the same story emerges. In many cases, the destruction of habitat,
the major cause of biodiversity loss, is continuing at an alarming rate." (Environment Australia
1996). Over 900 species are nationally threatened with extinction. In NSW, over 80 native
species of plants and animals are known to be extinct and nearly 700 plant and animal species
are seriously threatened with extinction (NPWS 1999). It is estimated that more than 70% of
native vegetation in NSW has been removed or significantly modified. Up to one third of
terrestrial plants and animals in NSW are considered to be under threat (EPA 2000).
Gosford City currently contains significant species and ecosystem diversity. At the same time, a
relatively high number of plants, animals and communities known to occur in the areas are
recognised as being at risk of extinction in the next five to ten years. Also some plants and
animals occur at the southern or northern extent of their natural distribution in the Gosford LGA.
Conserving the biodiversity of Gosford City is important not only to retain what we currently
know and enjoy, but also to retain it for future generations. Benefits of conserving biodiversity
will be that the area continues to be a beautiful and diverse area that enriches the lives of the
people of Gosford and attracts visitors and new residents to the area.
Conclusion
Biodiversity loss is a major concern for Council and actions are required to address this loss.
Biodiversity provides a great range of benefits to the area and is considered essential to the
healthy functioning of our natural systems. This strategy has been developed to ensure that
Council meets its obligations for environmentally sustainable development and to retain the
features of Gosford City that make it unique and biologically diverse.
Biodiversity - Technical Report Page 35