Australia is home to over a million different types of native plants and animals – many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Australian landowners and nurseries have the responsibility and the opportunity to protect and encourage biodiversity, writes Emily Rice of Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA).
The greenlife industry in Australia contributes to biodiversity from a national to a business level. A unified national approach for urban green infrastructure, led by Standards Australia, is underway, promoting climate resilience and biodiversity in cities. Additionally, Hort Innovation’s Horticulture Sustainability Framework measures the elements of sustainability and sets goals for the future of biodiversity in horticulture¹. At a government level, Agricultural Ministers have committed to working with industry to help Australia achieve it’s potential as a leader in climate smart producing and exporting².
At a business level, GIA offers environmental certification and best practice management guidelines to help production nurseries maintain and promote biodiversity.
Both governments and private businesses have begun recognising that urban green infrastructure (UGI) helps strengthen climate resilience and biodiversity. In fact, 88 per cent of Australian urban local government areas have an urban forest strategy, or are developing one, which is up from seven per cent ten years ago³.
The National Urban Green Infrastructure Handbook has been developed in response to momentum for a more consistent and strategic approach. This handbook helps the community, urban professionals and policy makers make climate informed decisions. Among a range of positive outcomes, the handbook has been developed to:
• provide tools, equipping planners and developers with tools to integrate UGI and, thereby maintain or increase biodiversity
• strengthen UGI’s outcomes, including microclimates and biodiversity.
The handbook promotes the benefits of green infrastructure, boosting the demand for greenlife, and encouraging collaboration in the creation of green spaces. It also advocates for potential legislation and incentives aimed at incorporating UGI into urban projects.
Read more about the National Urban Green Infrastructure Handbook at: www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/case-studies/ugihandbook
Greenlife businesses can have a negative impact on biodiversity by clearing vegetation, which can degrade and remove the habitat of native animals and spread exotic plant species. Conversely, production nurseries have the opportunity to make a positive impact by propagating and providing native plant species, and influencing consumer attitudes by promoting their environmental stewardship to customers.
Certification plays an important role in assisting growers to meet their environmental responsibilities and goals, including maintaining and promoting biodiversity.
The Australian Plant Production Standard (APPS) is the framework for three nursery industry best management practice (BMP) programs. Sustainability is a key component of the standard, and EcoHort certification is known as the gold standard for production nurseries’ environmental practices. EcoHort contains target values for environmental performance and provides expert guidance on environmental issues, such as biodiversity.
Greenlife Industry Australia administers EcoHort, providing on-the-ground advice and support, as well as annual auditing.
EcoHort certification helps businesses continuously improve their sustainability and address their environmental and natural resource management responsibilities. It provides guidelines on topics including:
• how to protect offsite natural ecosystems
• controlling disease
• retaining native plants, paying attention to waterways
• revegetating by replanting local native trees, shrubs and grasses
• protecting onsite native plants, vegetation and wildlife, including fencing areas to keep stock and vehicles out and allow native animals in.
Further, EcoHort demonstrates sound environmental practices to government, industry, the community and consumers.
Australia’s greenlife industry plays a pivotal role in maintaining and promoting biodiversity. Through a collaborative national approach to improve and increase green spaces, as well as environmental dedication at a business level, the greenlife industry is enjoying an exciting opportunity to promote plant and animal biodiversity countrywide.
The ‘National biosecurity and sustainable plant production program’ (NY20001) project is funded by Hort Innovation using nursery research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.
1. More information at Horticulture Sustainability Framework: https://www.horticulture.com.au/hort-innovation/our-work/horticulture-sustainability-framework/
2. More information at the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/climatechange/national-statement-on-climate-change-and-agriculture
3. More information at Greener Spaces Better Places: https://www.greenerspacesbetterplaces.com.au/about/
This article was first published in the June 2024 issue of FloraCulture International.