Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government

and sub-communities and to provide some level of protection to vegetation communities of
conservation significance.
Figures 3.2 and 3.3 Comparison of regional vegetation mapping (LHCCREMS 2003) and refined
localscale mapping (Bell 2004).
It was also recognised that conservation efforts needed to be expanded to other public and
privately owned land as the long term conservation of biological diversity requires a whole-oflandscape
approach. Importantly, the protection of all remaining riparian corridors and
associated wetlands and floodplain communities where native vegetation occurs or is at least
moderately well represented needs to be addressed. Further investigation was also required
into the status, distribution and abundance of significant plant species in the City to enable
better-informed decisions to be made in cases where development threatens known
populations.
A Rainforest Mapping Project was also undertaken by Robert Payne on behalf of Council in
2002. This provides species lists for 51 rainforest areas and mapping at a scale of 1:8,000. It is
noted that the more recent mapping supercedes previous mapping. Th e recommendations and
species lists are however still relevant and are considered in more detail in Chapter 5.
s
A - 3.2.5 Backyard Wildlife Survey 2003 - 2004
The “What Can You Find in Your Backyard?” Wildlife Survey project aimed to increase
community involvement and understanding of the diversity and value of native animal species
found in and around resident’s gardens and backyards. It also provided valuable information for
Council on what the community values about native animals and what actions Council, other
government agencies and the community may be able to take to help ensure the survival of
native wildlife in these areas.
The project was a collaboration between Gosford City Council (GCC), Wyong Shire Council
(WSC) and the then NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Both councils jointly
applied for funding under the NPWS Urban Biodiversity Pilot Program to develop the program.
The NPWS Biodiversity Pilot Program presented an opportunity to work with NPWS and the
Backyard Buddies Program and to use research from this program to better target a broader,
previously ‘unengaged’ audience.
A widllife survey was suggested as a means of increasing broader awareness of the diversity of
native wildlife, and threats to native wildlife including fox predation. It was considered that this
increased awareness would form a basis for gaining broader support for regional fox
management and other biodiversity conservation initiatives. Wildlife surveys have been used
elsewhere by NPWS and others to gain valuable information about community attitudes to the
Biodiversity - Technical Report Page 60