Grab A Buddy

Five simple ways to help the environment from your own backyard.

- Ian Darbyshire

A thriving, green backyard to call your own has long been a staple of the Australian dream. But how many of us are really in touch with the life beyond our back door? In Australia, we are lucky to have some of the most diverse wildlife in the world. Our geographic isolation has meant that over many millennia, our native flora and fauna have evolved to be uniquely adapted to our landscapes. More than 90 per cent of the country’s plant species, 89 per cent of marsupials, 87 per cent of mammals and 45 per cent of birds are endemic to the country and found nowhere else in the world.

Unfortunately, Australia also has the worst record for vascular plant and mammal extinctions in the world. However, according to research, conservation behaviours that are simple to incorporate into daily life are the most likely to be adopted. This is why Backyard Buddies was started — to provide simple tips for Australians to help the native flora and fauna thrive. An environmental education initiative spearheaded by the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW), the program endeavours to play a significant role in creating a solution. It raises awareness and provides information on native plants and animals that are likely to be found in urban environments.

Many Australians are unaware how simple it is to get involved in conservation. It’s easy to think one person can’t make an impact, and that’s what Backyard Buddies is trying to disprove.

Here are five ways you can help care for the environment around you: