Bike paths and walking trails as biodiversity corridors
This engaging, visual presentation provides a comprehensive guide on all aspects of how to create a cycleway or walk trail in an urban area, that enables people to connect with nature on their journey while also providing vital connectivity (NatureLinks) for our wildlife.
The project was undertaken by Rachel Peterson as an internship with NatureLink Perth in 2023, under the supervision of program Director, Jane Chambers. In May 2019, the United Nations reported that 1 million species of plants and animals were under threat of extinction. Much of this biodiversity is concentrated in small areas on the planet (~2.4%). The south west of Western Australia is one such spot. `Biodiversity hotspots’ are where exceptional concentrations of endemic species (plants and animals that occur nowhere else in the world) are undergoing exceptional loss of habitat (>70%).
Acting now in biodiversity hotspots will make a huge difference to our city and our planet. Perth is one of the most biodiverse areas in the south west WA hotspot. We must embrace nature in the city if we are to sustain our unique plants and animals into the future.
In this presentation you will learn:
- Pathway design
- Biodiversity corridors
- Connections with nature
About the Speaker
Murdoch University, NatureLink Perth Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Dr Chambers is a wetland ecologist with over 30 years’ experience in wetland research, management and restoration both in Western Australia and internationally working with industry and management agencies. Her systems-based research focuses on aquatic and riparian plants, nutrient dynamics, salinity and climate change in rivers, wetlands and estuaries. In 2019, Dr Chambers initiated NatureLink Perth, a community of practice to advocate, align and inform the efforts of individuals to transition Perth to a be a nature-linked city. As part of this she has championed the plight of urban wetlands and turtles. The Saving Our Snake Neck Turtles program engages local councils and community members to protect nesting females and nests from predators. The research behind it provides scientifically-based conservation actions to prevent Chelodina oblonga from local and perhaps range wide extinction. Dr Chambers's early work with the Swan River Trust and the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) created valuable experience coordinating transdisciplinary teams, conducted by investigators from different disciplines working jointly to create new innovations that move beyond discipline-specific approaches to address a common problem. She is a passionate educator, keen to engage students in real world issues, and focus on translational research accessible to the community and management agencies.
