FAQs

‘Biological diversity’ (or ‘biodiversity’) is the variety of all life forms on earth and can be explored at three levels:

• Genetic diversity – the variety of genetic information contained in individual plants, animals and micro-organisms.
• Species diversity – the variety of species.
• Ecosystem diversity – the variety of habitats, ecological communities, and ecological processes.

Biodiversity occurs in all terrestrial, aquatic and marine environments on Earth. Biodiversity is dynamic and constantly changing. Biodiversity can increase through genetic change and evolutionary processes or decrease in response to key threats such as habitat loss and/or change, invasive species and diseases.  

Biodiversity is important to all species (including humans) because we depend on the biological life support systems that different types of ecosystems provide. Ecosystems with high biodiversity can process nutrients faster and more consistently. Biodiversity improves the functioning of ecosystems which in turn provides humans with four types of services known as ‘ecosystem services’ that support healthy lives.

A Biodiversity Strategy is a document that 1) identifies the biodiversity values found within a particular area 2) describes the key threats to those biodiversity values and 3) outlines a range of priorities and actions to protect those biodiversity values. This Biodiversity Strategy aims to balance the ecological needs of the natural environment and the preferences of the community with Council’s jurisdictional capabilities and resources to provide strategic delivery of environmental management activities within Kempsey LGA.

The Biodiversity Strategy describes Council’s vision, objectives, biodiversity priorities and actions for managing biodiversity across the LGA. While Council has obligations to comply with all legislation requirements, several key biodiversity legislation and policies have influenced the development of this Biodiversity Strategy.

Kempsey Shire Council has prepared a Biodiversity Strategy that identifies Council’s biodiversity priorities, actions Council will take, timeframes and the funding required to ensure that the identified goals are realised through the duration of the Biodiversity Strategy. The Biodiversity Strategy 2021 has been expanded and will be implemented through the five themes: Protect, Maintain, Restore, Connect and Engage. The objective of each theme will address the specific threats to biodiversity identified within the Kempsey LGA.

This Biodiversity Strategy is consistent with the communities’ vision and outcomes for the region. The vision for this Biodiversity Strategy is: Manage biodiversity values within Kempsey LGA for current and future generations.