10 principles for restoring native vegetation as wildlife habitat

You will attract native wildlife, and help to conserve biodiversity in the Sturt Catchment, by restoring native vegetation and habitat.  We recommend the following principles to increase the wildlife on your property:

1. Know your vegetation association and what you are aiming to restore – was it an open forest or a grassy woodland? 
2. Be patient – have a 10 year restoration plan, with sensitive change at each stage to minimise disturbance for wildlife.
3. Focus on strengthening native vegetation while retaining habitat – not on removing weeds.

  • Maintain a mosaic of ‘areas under restoration’ and ‘dense weedy areas for habitat’ (if they are being used by wildlife) until the native vegetation regenerates and provides sufficient habitat.
  • Retain, and add to, habitat corridors across your property and surrounding properties.

4. Encourage natural regeneration, rather than re-vegetation, as your major strategy. 

  • Plants that regenerate naturally are appropriate for your vegetation association, may be an important species that can’t currently be propagated (eg. Acrotriche, Astroloma, Hibbertia and Lepidosperma species), and are more likely to survive than seedlings that are planted.
  • Start where the native vegetation is in the best condition and manage the weed edges to keep them contained.
  • Only remove existing and seedling weeds once you are sure of their identity.

5. Use locally indigenous plants if re-vegetation is necessary, i.e. those species that occur naturally in your particular area.
6. Encourage plants that are a range of heights to give a diverse structure for wildlife habitat. A layer of leaf litter and fallen timber is also important.
7. Use a diversity of plants that will provide flowers throughout the year.
8. Be a responsible pet owner.  We recommend keeping cats indoors at all times, and keeping dogs under control and away from areas that are providing habitat for wildlife.
9. Use natural approaches and minimise chemical use.  This will reduce the impact on soil biodiversity, which is an important food source for many native ground-dwelling fauna.
10. Retain and create shelter as habitat for wildlife – leaf litter, fallen branches, logs, rocks, nesting boxes, ponds and bird-baths.

Principles written in consultation with Ann Prescott, Enid Robertson  and
Backyards for Wildlife www.backyards4wildlife.com.au

You may also want to keep fire prevention principles in mind for areas adjacent to your house while you are restoring native vegetation.

These principles underpin the guide, and are the basis for the habitat restoration advice for each group of animals as well as individual species.  Native frogs, reptiles and mammals will all benefit if you follow these principles on your property.