September news for National Biodiversity Month

Welcome to September's newsletter, which honours the start of the Noongar season 'Djilba,' and National Biodiversity Month.

Biodiversity—the variety of living organisms and their interactions—is crucial for sustaining life on Earth. Australia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, home to 7-10% of all species on Earth. Yet, we also rank as one of the worst countries in biodiversity conservation, putting our unique species at risk.

More than 2,000 native plants and animals endemic to Australia are currently listed as threatened with extinction. Habitat loss is pushing iconic native species such as koalas, malleefowls, and Carnaby's black cockatoos closer to extinction. And we need to do something about it.

Why does this matter for your business?

We’re consuming natural resources like water, food, and land 1.7 times faster than the Earth can replenish. This strain on natural systems threatens the resources that support over 50% of global GDP, according to the World Economic Forum.

The decline in biodiversity directly impacts the resources vital for both humans and businesses. As ecosystems degrade, businesses face risks such as disrupted supply chains, rising costs, and increasing consumer demand for sustainability.

However, investing in biodiversity can also strengthen your business’s resilience. The key is not just understanding the risk but finding how to turn this challenge into an opportunity.

Learn more in our latest article 'Why biodiversity is good for business'.

How our projects support biodiversity

As you may know, Carbon Positive Australia focuses on reforestation plantings. This means we are planting native trees and shrubs to restore and reforest areas that were formerly bushland and forest but have now been cleared.

Our projects are home to many rare species of flora and fauna. Keep on reading to find out more about the rare (and cute) species our planting sites are home to.

Helping the quokka at Manypeaks:

Quokkas are small marsupials endemic to southwestern Australia. They are found in small, scattered populations across the region, including the Albany area and Mount Manypeaks. Our biodiversity restoration project at Manypeaks aims to create a wildlife corridor and increase habitat to support quokka populations.

Read more about the project here.

Rebuilding habitat for koalas in Nimbin:

Australia’s most iconic animal is also one of its most endangered. When we had the opportunity to rehabilitate a known koala habitat in NSW, we carefully planned a reforestation project, restoring the area by planting Eucalyptus trees at our biodiverse carbon project site in Nimbin.

Read more about the project here.

Would you like to know how your organisation can support nature-positive projects that support Australian biodiversity?

Let's chat.

Restoring Eurardy, on Nanda Country (WA)

Join our CEO, Louise Tarrier, and the team at Bush Heritage Australia on an upcoming webinar as they discuss the complex restoration of Eurardy Reserve (WA).

'Revegetation on the Edge' Restoration at Eurardy Reserve.

Date: Thursday, 12 September 2024.

Time: 10am – 11am (WA) // 11:30am – 12:30pm (SA, NT) // 12pm – 1pm (VIC, NSW, ACT, TAS, QLD).

Sign up to the webinar here.

News from our partners

A huge thank you to all our partners and donors for making our work happen. We are excited to share some of the great initiatives that have been happening this quarter.

Turning trash into trees

We have partnered with the Shire of Harvey to reduce their fleet emissions, and we are delighted to extend our partnerships to this amazing initiative, which reduces waste and restores the landscape.

Read more here.

In the supermarkets with Earth Choice

In August, it was exciting to see our projects in the supermarket as part of an initiative with Earth Choice to plant over 14,000 trees. Earth Choice has been pioneering sustainable practices since 1981. Their products, made with plant-based ingredients, utilise recycled and recyclable packaging, and their operations are powered by solar energy at their Ferntree Gully, Victoria factory.

Read more here.

Environmental news

The Australian Senate passed new climate reporting legislation introducing climate disclosure statements in August. More information can be found on the Australian Treasury website here.

In August, Climate Analytics, a global climate science and policy institute, published Australia’s global fossil fuel carbon footprint report, citing that Australia is responsible for 4.5% of global fossil carbon dioxide emissions. Read the full report here.

Australia’s Nature Repair Market promotes actions to restore and protect the environment by encouraging nature-positive land management. Conservation groups, First Nations, and farmers can provide input until September 30th. To submit your survey to the DCCEEW, please click here.

For the trees and the health of our planet,

Louise, Catherine, Lauren & the Carbon Positive Australia team.

Carbon Positive Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we live, work, and play. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.