Maroondah’s rich biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life found in a place - the animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms like fungi and bacteria. An ecosystem is a network of these living things interacting with each other and with their physical environment, such as water, soil, sunlight, and air. Ecosystems are constantly changing as the environment changes over time, and from place to place. The living parts of natural ecosystems have usually evolved together, with each part making an important contribution to the stability and productivity of the whole system. The diversity of organisms within an ecosystem is crucial to its health, function, and ability to adapt to change.

Resources like energy, water, nutrients, oxygen, and carbon dioxide move through ecosystems in cycles. Many of these processes provide benefits to people, known as ‘ecosystem services’. Examples include storing energy, recycling waste, cleaning air and water, storing carbon dioxide, maintaining oxygen in the atmosphere, pollinating crops, and providing food, medicines, and materials.

Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems also support our less tangible needs, such as our connection with nature, which can enhance wellbeing, quality of life, and sense of place.

Maroondah’s biodiversity includes all animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms found here, as well as the communities and ecosystems they form. Together, these make up Maroondah’s natural environment and contribute to its unique character.

Biodiversity in Maroondah 2020

As part of a municipal-wide vegetation review, Dr Graeme Lorimer was engaged to provide a contemporary assessment of Maroondah’s biodiversity with a focus on indigenous species, communities, and habitats, and an updated assessment of sites of biological significance. Explore the findings