Natural Area Survey - A Guide to Warringah’s Flora and Fauna
Warringah Council is committed to protecting its flora and fauna and recently completed a Natural Area Survey. This survey provides Council with a record of all our flora and fauna identified within Warringah and is an important tool to effectively manage Warringah’s natural environment.
Click here to download 'Warringah Natural Area Survey - Fauna Species'.pdf
To download 'Warringah Natural Area Survey - Vegetation Communities and Plant Species' please click on the required sections below:
- Contents, Introduction and Table 1. Native Vegetation Communties of the Warringah LGA.pdf
- Vegetation community descriptions pages 7-18.pdf
- Vegetation community descriptions pages 19-33.pdf
- Vegetation community descriptions pages 34-45.pdf
- Corresponding communities in Ku-ring-gai Chase and Garigal National Parks
- Appendix 1. Native plant species recorded in the Warringah LGA outside the national parks
- Appendix 2. Significant plant species recorded in the Warringah LGA outside the national parks.
Introduction
Australia is home to a variety of unique plants and animals, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. However since 1788, 125 plant and animal species have become extinct and many species are now listed as threatened.
Within the Warringah Local Government Area, there are currently over 70 species of plants and animals threatened nationally or within NSW. Our flora and fauna is under threat from a number of factors including clearing and fragmentation of native vegetation, competition and predation by feral animals (such as cats and foxes) and from the invasion of weeds.
Warringah Council’s Natural Areas Survey recorded 407 species of native animals, 855 native plants and 40 different vegetation communities. These results highlight that the Warringah area supports a diverse range of biodiversity. However, many of the species recorded are threatened species and must be protected to ensure their future survival.
If you would like more information about the Survey or its findings, please contact Warringah Council’s Conservation and Land Management Team on 9942 2579.
Why Conserve Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth, including different plants and animals, and the ecosystems in which they live.
Warringah is home to a wide range of plants and animals. This is largely due to the variety of landscapes within the local area.
From the hilltops of Terrey Hills to the coastline of Dee Why, changes in topography, geology and soil lead to variations in plant species and vegetation structure and as a result different animals choose to live in these areas.
Biodiversity offers many values from providing food to performing important functions to support human life, such as the regulation of climate, water and nutrient cycles and the breakdown of pollution. Warringah is valued for its diverse natural environment with over 6,000 hectares of bushland in public ownership, 75 hectares of coastline, nine beaches and four lagoons.
Warringah’s Natural Area Survey will be used as a tool to help conserve biodiversity, by identifying the different plants, animals and ecosystems present to ensure they are managed correctly and that our valuable resources are not lost from inappropriate use.
What is a Threatened Species?
Warringah’s biodiversity is threatened by clearing of native vegetation, changes to fire frequency, predation by feral animals and invasion of weeds. A threatened species is a species that is likely to become extinct if threats to it continue.
The words endangered and vulnerable are used to describe how close the species is to extinction. For example, an endangered species is a species likely to become extinct in the near future if threats to it continue. A vulnerable species is one that is likely to become endangered if threats continue.
Click here to download a summary "Booklet.pdf" (4.3 MB) of the Natural Area Survey
