Celebrate Queensland’s Biodiversity by connecting with Nature
National Biodiversity Month is celebrated every year across Australia during September. At the Queensland Trust for Nature, we aim to get more people connecting with nature and valuing Queensland’s biodiversity. As part of National Biodiversity Month, we have prepared a calendar to provide ideas of how to connect with nature for at least 20 minutes per day for the month of September.
The term biodiversity is used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth. Queensland is the most naturally diverse state in Australia, home to more than 1,000 ecosystem types, 70% of Australia’s mammals, 80% of its native birds and more than 50% of its reptiles, frogs and plant species.
Biodiversity is every living thing, including plants, bacteria, animals and humans. These living things are responsible for the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. “Without biodiversity, there is no future for humanity,” says Prof David Macdonald, at Oxford University.
We have set the challenge – 20 minutes per day connecting with Nature. Let us know how you go!
Download QTFN interactive Calendar for September here: QTFN National Biodiversity Month Calendar
How to connect with Nature:
- Learn about Queensland’s Biodiversity and Google “is QLD the most naturally diverse state in Australia”
- Download seek by iNaturalist to identify the biodiversity around you
- Learn about whose country you are on by searching the AIATSIS map
- In September or on National Threatened Species Day (7th September) you could hold an event to celebrate threatened species as part of the “Threatened Species Bake Off”
- Learn some interesting facts about one of Queensland’s 15 endangered mammals, Bilbies on National Bilby Day (11th September) from the Australian Academy of Science video
- Cassowaries are found in Cape York and the Wet Tropics of north Queensland on World Cassowary Day (26th September) become a Cassowary Champion by learning some facts about these fantastic birds that you can share with your friends and families
- Learn how to reduce food waste which will help protect our biodiversity as a thriving, efficient and sustainable food industry is central to Australia’s economy, regional job security and prosperity, yet 25% of all the food we produce goes to waste.
Plan an adventure in Nature
- Search the Queensland Government Parks and Forests website to plan a trip to connect with Nature
- Search Google Maps for a “arboretum”, “botanic gardens”, “conservation park”, “walks”, “reserve” to find a greenspace near you to explore and connect with Nature.
- Find your local government website or facebook page to see what events or greenspaces they may have near you to connect with Nature. Here is the directory of Queensland’s local governments
Books, Podcasts and Documentaries about Nature
- Find engaging books about Australian Biodiversity, we suggest Australian author/illustrator/environmentalists like Queensland’s very own Narelle Oliver who sadly passed away in 2016.
- Watch your favourite documentary film or series on Nature. Our suggestion of a great engaging series is “Our Planet”
- Find a podcast about Nature and start listening, Dr Ann Jones from the ABC is particularly engaging and you can find her podcast “What the Duck?!”