Planning to implement protective measures for the region’s biodiversity, Yarra Ranges Council has released a draft biodiversity plan.
The draft Yarra Ranges Nature Plan; Protecting Our Biodiversity Assets 2022-2032 is out on public consultation from 24 August for eight weeks following the approval at the ordinary council meeting.
The plan aims to support and retain flora, fauna and ecologies and maintain healthy landscapes to protect and enhance the environment.
The plans targets include:
1. Yarra Ranges achieves an overall ‘net gain’ in native vegetation cover by 2032;
2. Triple restoration and revegetation works on private and Council managed land each year;
3. Increase the conservation value across our bushland reserve network over the next 10 years; and
4. Enable at least 200 land stewards to improve the biodiversity on their land each year
The plan has 18 foundation actions which include:
• Development and implementation of a Biolinks Plan;
• Expansion of the Ribbons of Green program;
• Embedding Indigenous land management into Bushland programs;
• Collaboration to reduce impacts of feral deer;
• Increasing urban biodiversity; and
• Support for community to learn more about and do more for their local environment.
Cr Johana Skelton moved the motion, which was voted for unanimously.
“We all know that council has a big role to play around planning, rules, recommendation and education that we make to the public as well as all the advocacy that we do with all the other agencies,” Cr Skelton said.
The draft plan has been costed at a total of $15.8 million for an investment period of 10 years.
