See how Deakin is preserving our environment this International Day of Biological Diversity
This International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB), Wednesday 22 May 2024, we’re celebrating the natural environments around our campuses, while recognising the importance of restoring and caring for these special places.
As humans, we rely heavily on the natural world to provide us with the water, clean air, food, medicine, plants to absorb carbon dioxide, materials for building, and other resources we need to survive. However, for these ecosystems to function successfully, they need to be biologically diverse – both in terms of the variety of species and the genetic differences within them. Unfortunately, human activities are causing biodiversity to disappear.
We all need to work together to stop and reverse the loss of biodiversity to keep it safe for future generations. Find out below just some of the many ways Deakin is working to support biodiversity and three things you, yourself, can do to help!
What Deakin is doing to preserve biodiversity
Integrated Water Management Project
If you’ve been to Waurn Ponds Campus, you may have noticed the major works over the last two years to convert the chain of six ponds into functioning wetlands. The works are now complete, bird netting has been removed from the top five ponds and the more than 69,000 new plants in and around the wetlands are helping to improve the quality of water flowing into Waurn Ponds Creek while also attracting wildlife to campus.
The Integrated Water Management (IWM) plan involves managing the different aspects of the water cycle in a holistic way and considering the role of water in creating healthy ecosystems and a sense of place. The new Forest Therapy Trail brings this principle to life and provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and explore the new wetlands precinct.
Attracting and protecting threatened species
A simple indicator of biodiversity health is threatened species. For this reason, Deakin’s Biodiversity Strategy and Campus Restoration Plans have been developed to attract and protect threatened species including the Yarra Pygmy Perch, Swift Parrot, Growling Grass Frog (pictured below) and Rufous Bristlebird. Developing habitats that support these threatened species will ultimately attract other species, improving biodiversity and the overall health of our campus ecosystems. Learn more about the ‘focal species’ for the Waurn Pond Campus.
Importantly, it is possible to make a difference. In Australia, 29 different species, including the Humpback Whale, Murray Cod and Cassowary, were all reported in 2023 to have been pulled back from the brink of extinction. This is proof that with concerted effort and investment, it’s possible to save and improve the plight of species impacted by human activities.
How can you help?
Plant a tree
Planting trees is a tried and tested way to capture carbon from the atmosphere.
When Deakin opened the Waurn Ponds Campus in 1975, there was barely a plant in sight as the land had previously been cleared for farming. Almost every tree you now see on the Waurn Ponds Campus has been planted by our grounds team over the last 48 years, with the help of students, staff and community members. Similar revegetation programs are underway at Warrnambool, with direct seeding activities and native planting occurring along the Hopkins River and on the main campus.
Keep an eye out for opportunities to get your hands dirty at one of our upcoming Tree Planting Days. Alternatively, explore what’s possible in your own backyard or local community.
Develop your biodiversity knowledge
Connect with nature and learn more about flora and fauna on our beautiful campuses. You can even record the nature you spy on an app such as iNaturalist. iNaturalist is a free database designed to capture living things and their location. The data entered can then be used to improve our understanding of campus biodiversity.
Think before you buy
Our impact on biodiversity extends beyond our campus boundaries. Be it through the extraction of natural resources to produce technology, or the waste and pollution that comes from single-use plastics, the current way we buy and dispose of a huge range of items is causing harm to nature around the world. Plastic pollution has particularly significant consequences for marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems.
By consciously considering and limiting the items we purchase and the waste we generate, we can reduce nature-related harm in Australia and the world. All this involves is taking a moment to consider the options when you are looking to buy something, both in a work and personal capacity. Ask yourself whether you need it (avoidance is best!), and if the answer is yes, think about options to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.
Find out more
For more information on our Biodiversity Strategy, or if you are keen to get involved, email [email protected].
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