10. Biodiversity

Message to our students and staff

The operational directives of the Sustainability Team play a key role in supporting Charles Sturt University's corporate strategy. Listed within it are these biodiversity targets:

• Achieve a 20 per cent allocation of core land to biodiversity by 2015 (achieved in 2016)
• Support National and International Biodiversity Targets by achieving a 30 per cent allocation of core land to biodiversity by 2030
• Improve the biodiversity value of allocated land 'year on year' (ongoing)

Biodiversity reports were commissioned for each major campus to help staff to identify areas of existing biodiversity value, as well where Charles Sturt University can protect and enhance connectivity between these areas.

From these biodiversity reports, we have identified actions and initiatives to actively support species listed on the IUCN Red List and national conservation registers. Examples include:

Sloane’s Froglet - To protect the habitat of the vulnerable Sloane’s Froglet, we’ve implemented campus-specific management plans. These include:

• Seasonal no-mow zones to safeguard breeding areas.
• Vegetation planning around wetlands to support habitat health.
• Ongoing population monitoring in collaboration with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE).

Koala - We encourage staff, students, and the community to use the I Spy Koala App, a free tool developed by the NSW Government. This citizen science initiative helps track koala populations and inform conservation efforts.

• Koala sightings have been recorded at our Port Macquarie and Bathurst campuses.

Peregrine Falcon - A breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons is monitored via our Falcon Cam livestream. This initiative has:

• Contributed to research on breeding and feeding behaviours.
• Provided educational engagement opportunities ranging from the local community  to international audiences.

Avian Surveys - Regular bird surveys across multiple campuses help us track species diversity and abundance.

• Notably, the endangered Swift Parrot has been observed at Albury, Wagga Wagga, and Port Macquarie campuses.

Sustainability at Charles Sturt aims to include the majority of the areas identified in these reports in our biodiversity targets, though occasionally natural or human-made factors prevent this. Two examples include:

• The requirement to provide a buffer area between buildings and vegetation areas for bushfire protection.
• The need to set aside land for future campus development. Where infrequent clearing occurs, Charles Sturt University follows the local council development approval process and offsets this clearing through significant tree planting.