Biodiversity in your Backyard (Cont'd)

By: Wikipedia

Biodiversity in the Suburb

Even if you live in a suburb you can do your bit to contribute to biodiversity conservation, especially if you have a garden. 

One of the major threats to biodiversity everywhere is invasive alien organisms. 




You can start making a contribution by removing invasive alien weeds from your garden, such as :

• Jacaranda 

• Syringa trees 

• Poplars 

• Lantana

• Queen of the Night

• Prickly Pears

• Morning Glory

• Cat's Claw creeper (see www.dwaf.gov.za/wfw/Control for more information).

 

A step further would be to garden with indigenous plant species only. 

There is no reason why anyone should want to plant alien species in the garden. 

South Africa is blessed with an enormous diversity of plants and trees, many of which are highly attractive ornamental species. 

Furthermore, if you choose local species there is no need to water them profusely or use so many fertilizers.
 
An added advantage to using indigenous plant species is that they are more attractive to local animal species, as the latter have co-evolved with them. 

Many insect species, in particular butterflies, are highly specialised in the food plants they select. 

To an extent, gardeners can determine which species frequent their garden by choosing plants that attract them. 

This applies to insects as well as birds.

In tomorrow's issue we will be looking at the importance of insects.

From an article by: Dr Ed Stam, Ecologist, NZG