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Australia is one of only 17 countries recognised as ‘mega-diverse’, meaning that a significant proportion of the world’s biodiversity is located here.
It is estimated that Australia is home to about one million species of plants, animals and micro-organisms, many of which are endemic and cannot be found elsewhere in the world.
Carbon Neutral is dedicated to the protection and conservation of Australia's biodiversity. We’re passionate about our native Australian landscape, and our focus is on developing biodiverse reforestation plantings and carbon sinks.
Why We all Need Biodiversity
Biodiversity is essential to sustaining the living networks and systems that provide us all with health, food, wealth, fuel and the vital services our lives depend on.
These organisms, ecosystems and ecological processes supply us with oxygen and clean water. They help keep our lives in balance and regulate the climate. Yet this rich diversity is being lost at a greatly accelerated rate because of human activities.
CSIRO research shows that by 2070, the impacts of climate change on Australia’s biodiversity will be widespread and extreme. We need to take action now to preserve this irreplaceable natural wealth and reduce biodiversity loss.
Australian Biodiversity Hotspots
In October 2003 the Australian Government recognised 15 national biodiversity hotspots:
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Einasleigh and Desert Uplands (Queensland)
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Brigalow North and South (Queensland and New South Wales)
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Border Ranges North and South (Queensland and New South Wales)
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Midlands of Tasmania
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Victorian Volcanic Plain
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South Australia's South-East/ Victoria's South-West
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Mt Lofty/Kangaroo Island (South Australia)
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Fitzgerald River Ravensthorpe (Western Australia)
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Busselton Augusta (Western Australia)
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Central and Eastern Avon Wheatbelt (Western Australia)
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Mount Lesueur-Eneabba (Western Australia)
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Geraldton to Shark Bay sand plains (Western Australia)
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Carnarvon Basin (Western Australia)
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Hamersley-Pilbara (Western Australia)
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North Kimberley (Western Australia)
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The protection of these natural assets and the ecological integrity of these regions are vital as a basis for sustainable development.
For more information about these biodiversity hotspots visit the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities
The Southwest Australia Ecoregion
The Southwest Australia Ecoregion is one of the top 34 biodiversity hotspots of the world.
This unique Ecoregion covers approximately 493,000 km2 of some of the most biologically diverse areas on earth. This includes 10 regions ranging from the northern sand plain heaths to the Swan coastal plains and wetlands, the tall forests to the woodlands and weathered granites of the Wheatbelt as well as the mallee and heaths of the south coast.
More than 4000 species of native plants and 100 native mammals, birds, frogs and reptiles have been recorded in the region, with other plant species believed to be yet discovered. Nearly 80 percent of the plant species in Southwest Australia are found nowhere else in the world.
Many of these native plants and animals are rare and endangered, giving the Southwest Australia Ecoregion the highest concentration of rare and endangered species on the Australian continent.
The below map demonstrates the vast area of the Southwest Australian Global Biodiversity Hotspot which occupies some 356,717 km² on the south western tip of Australia.
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Further resources
The Atlas of Living Australia contains information on all the known species in Australia aggregated from a wide range of data providers: museums, herbaria, community groups, government departments, individuals and universities.
Carbon Neutral is interested in potential planting sites where land owners have the opportunity to protect or revegetate areas with biodiverse species.
For more information please contact us on 1300 851 211 or email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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E. Macrandra Blossom
Carbon Neutral is interested in potential planting sites where land owners have the opportunity to protect or revegetate areas with biodiverse species.
For more information please contact us on 1300 851 211 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Karri Forest
Western Pygmy Possum
Tammar Wallaby (W.Lawler, Aust Wildlife Conservancy)
Quenda (Cousans, Aust Wildlife Conservancy)
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