Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of all life including plants, animals, fungi, insects and microorganisms, their genes and the ecosystems that they form. It is a broad term for the many species and ecological processes that are essential for maintaining our community’s health and the amenity of the Central Coast and its landscapes.

Our region

On the Central Coast, there are thousands of different species of plants and fungi and hundreds of different animals (including birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects). There are at least 83 distinct vegetation community types, each with their unique suite of interacting species and ecological conditions. 

Over 2,100 native plant species have been recorded in the Central Coast LGA. An additional 798 exotic plant species have been recorded. There are 384 native bird, 108 native mammal and 122 native reptile and amphibian species on the Central Coast. Some of these are migratory or nomadic and use the region intermittently or seasonally. According to the Atlas of Living Australia there are 1090 species of insects and spiders recorded in the former Gosford LGA and 584 species in the former Wyong LGA. And those are just the ones that have names. 

Our magnificent biodiversity is of national and regional importance. For example, the Central Coast community can be proud that:

• our coastlines provide key breeding sites for the little tern and other migratory shorebirds;
• regionally important populations of squirrel glider, greater glider and yellow-bellied glider call the Central Coast home;
• we have a large diversity of microbat species;
• Kincumba Mountain Reserve and The Scenic Road Bushland Reserve are home to long-nosed potoroos;
• we have at least four permanent flying-fox maternity camps;
• there is a population of wallum froglet in the Porters Creek Wetland;
• our estuaries and coastal lakes are immensely important for the fisheries industry; and
• 46,808 ha or 25% of the Central Coast is national park.

Regent Honeyeater sighting

Did you know there are only 300-500 Regent Honeyeaters in the wild and all sightings should be reported to BirdLife Australia?!

Watch our video on this beautiful species on the Central Coast, also highlighting the importance of our biodiversity corridors and of planting native vegetation in your garden.

For more information and to report a Regent Honeyeater sighting, visit BirdLife Australia.

Celebrate biodiversity month every month

• Join Central Coast Council’s Environmental Volunteering Program
  Take a hands on role in the conservation, protection and remediation of our natural environment. We have a range of volunteering opportunities and diverse activities in bushland, coastal areas, lake foreshores, parklands, cemeteries, and high conservation area such as wildlife corridors.
• Connect with nature and your community through environmental education and citizen science
  Have fun learning about our natural environmental through educational events, school holiday programs, hands-on workshops, and observational activities that can help inform conservation decisions and efforts.
• Create a natural habitat in your backyard
  Discover plants native to your region. Native plants provide habitat, food, and shelter for an abundance of native fauna species.
• Be a responsible pet owner
  It’s important to remember that your pet is your responsibility. You are responsible for not only your pet’s welfare, but also ensuring that your pet does not impact the safety and wellbeing of other animals or the wider community. Please keep cats and dogs inside at night. If you can no longer keep your pet do not release into the wild. Instead try and re-home or contact your local animal shelter or rescue organisation.
• Report sightings of foxes and other feral animals
  Help protect biodiversity, communities, and local farms by recording pest animal activity in your local area. Feralscan.
• Take action on weeds
  Weeds can be a major threat to our natural environmental, threatening native plants and animals. You can visit NSW WeedWise and search Central Coast for the complete list of weeds and the control requirements for each species.

To submit Christmas beetle records, visit Christmas Beetle Count Project, Faculty of Science - The University of Sydney. 

To identify the Christmas beetles you see, download the free ID app from Australian Museum.