Biodiversity

WALGA provides advice on a range of issues relating to biodiversity, including sharing the best practice approaches via environmental events.

Projects

Local Biodiversity and Native Vegetation Management Project

WALGA has received funding from the State Natural Resource Management (NRM) Program, for the Local Government Biodiversity and Native Vegetation Management Project (the Project). The Project operated between March 2023 and December 2024, delivering a range of resources, including a roadside vegetation management e-training module and funding to Local Governments via a devolved grants program. 

The project was supported by:  

nrm logo

Resources

NAIA Templates and NAIA database

Four Natural Area Initial Assessment (NAIA) templates were developed to help Local Governments assess site-specific ecological values, biodiversity significance and threats.  Initially developed for Local Governments in the Perth Metropolitan Region and the South West Biodiversity Project area, the current NAIA Templates are applicable across the South West of Western Australia. The updated NAIA Templates include instructions on completion and Appendices with additional resources (see also Mapping Data).

Download the current NAIA Templates

To support identification of vegetation types in Perth and its surrounds, use of Perth Plant Communities Reference Sites is encouraged. This resource, available via DataWA, identifies 51 Reference Sites for which information is available on characteristics of typical plant communities. 

A database is available for historical Local Government data collected using the NAIA Templates. NAIA Templates for the Perth Metropolitan Region can be downloaded here and for the South West Biodiversity Project area can be downloaded here.

 Mapping data 

Various mapping data are used as surrogates for biodiversity. Several mapping datasets and reference information, developed via WALGA’s previous local biodiversity planning initiatives are available for download via the DataWA online platform.  These datasets are used to complete the NAIA templates and to undertake natural area prioritisation for local biodiversity strategies. 

To locate the datasets, search for WALGA under the list of organisations or search for the following:

  • Perth Regional Ecological Linkages
  • 2020 vegetation extent by vegetation complexes
  • Perth Plant Communities Reference Sites 
  • 2020 Vegetation retention status for Beard Associations and by IBRA regions
  • South West Regional Ecological Linkages Axis Lines
  • Natural Area Prioritisation for Perth and Peel 
  • Chittering Ecological Linkages
  • Vegetation Complex Prioritisation for the Perth and Peel Regions Scheme
  • 2020 Vegetation retention status in Local Government for Beard Associations 
  • 2020 vegetation extent by administrative planning categories

 Submissions

Native Vegetation

WALGA produces a number of resources which are aimed at assisting Local Governments find this balance whilst managing native vegetation in their area.  

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