Many habitat areas for these species are isolated from one another, cut off by urban areas, roads, farms and industry. Many species will not travel through cleared and urban environments as they provide little or no shelter, food and water.

The provision of wildlife corridors and habitat stepping stones creates a connection between areas of habitat, and is important to allow animals to move freely throughout the landscape, find food, shelter, and breeding partners or new areas to live. Movement is essential to the transfer of genes and nutrient flow between populations of plants and animals. Strong networks of healthy habitat help to create diverse and resilient ecosystems to support our unique plants and wildlife.

Providing corridors and linking larger patches of native forests (or refuges) is expected to become increasingly important as wildlife seek to move across the landscape in response to changing climate conditions. For example, following major bushfire events biolinks allow wildlife to escape fire impacted areas and relocate into alternative habitat while larger forest areas recover.

Equally important to the preservation of biodiversity in our region, are the ‘ecosystem services’ which keep our environment and climate healthy for the benefit of the whole community – now and in the future.

Examples of ecosystems services include:Examples of ecosystems services include:
• Providing clean air and water sources
• Creating healthy soils
• Retaining water in the landscape
• Storing carbon
• Supporting pollinators who pollinate our crops
• Regulating local climate condition (heat impacts, drawing cloud and rainfall)
• Preventing erosion
• Recreation and increased aesthetics, health and wellbeing
• Spiritual and cultural values