Presenter: jane edmanson [2/4/1999]Wildlife corridors link areas of bush, providing a safe route for native birds and animals to travel through farmland or developed areas. An added benefit to farmers is the value of these strips as windbreaks and shelterbelts. Also, pest problems are significantly reduced by the increased number of predatory birds and insects which thrive in these native habitats. Alan Reid, featured on 'Gardening Australia', recommends that 20% of farmland and gardens be set aside as habitat. He believes that this is the minimum required to support populations of local fauna. Corridors need to be 10m wide and must be fenced off from stock. A mixture of locally occurring trees and shrubs should be planted. It is important that local species are used, rather than simply 'native' plants. Many insects and birds are adapted to feeding and breeding on very specific plants. Larger wildlife can also be fussy. The best-known example is probably the koala, which only feeds on certain Eucalypt species. Ridgelines and gullies should always be left forested to minimise erosion and as wildlife refuges. Catchment protection must also be considered, so revegetation of drainage lines is another priority. Once these areas have been protected, sites requiring windbreaks should be identified and planted. All plantings should be linked, creating a network of fenced corridors in which wildlife can live and move through safely. In suburban situations it is also possible to create wildlife refuges. Choose a part of the garden which is little used and plant it densely to create a thicket. Birds feel safe in thorny, dense shrubberies. Berry and nectar producing plants will also attract birds and insects. It is possible to place a covenant on areas of bush which protects them for all time. This is a legal status which means that when land changes hands, the bush is still protected. Dams and wetlands are another important element in preserving biodiversity through habitat provision. Bulrushes and the aquatic fern, Nardoo (Marsilea mutica) are important in these ecosystems. For further information: Stephen Platt (03) 9412 4585. Greening Australia National Office (02) 6281 8585 for information on state offices.