20
School Biodiversity Audit Audit Title Wooragee Primary School Biodiversity Index is 100
School Biodiversity Audit
Audit Title
Wooragee Primary School
Biodiversity Index is 100
Table of Contents
SCHOOL BIODIVERSITY AUDIT 1
INFORMATION 4
Audit Details 4
SCHOOL AREA 5
AREA OF SCHOOL GROUNDS 6
Google Earth Method 6
Trundle Wheel 6
Area in hectares 6
SCHOOL MAP WITH GRID 7
SURFACES IN SCHOOL GROUNDS 8
Built Structures 8
Hard Impermeable Surfaces 8
Soft Surfaces - Garden beds containing Indigenous and Native 8 Small Trees ( < 5 metres) and Shrubs
Soft Surfaces - Garden beds with Exotic Tree and Shrub cover 8
Soft Surfaces - Indigenous Grass cover 8
Soft Surfaces - Exotic Grass cover 9
Ornamentals & Vegetable Gardens 9
Mulch cover 9
TREE MEASUREMENTS 10
Total Number of Trees 10
Habitat Trees 10
Tree Habitat Score 10
Action Plan 10
UNDERSTORY AND VEGETATION STRUCTURE 12
Vegetation Layers 12
Understory and other plants identified 12
Understory Habitat Score 13
Action Plan 13
ENVIRONMENTAL WEEDS 14
Environmental Weeds 14
Action Plan 14
ORGANIC LITTER 15
Organic Litter 15
Action Plan 15
LOGS AND ROCKS 16
Logs & Rocks 16
Action Plan 16
SOIL 17
Soil Management 17
Action Plan 17
HABITAT EXTRAS 18
Habitat Extras 18
Action Plan 19
BIODIVERSITY INDEX 20
REFERENCES 21 This survey is based on the LandLearn Process Wooragee Primary School - 3 -
Information
Wooragee Primary School - 4 -
Question
Response
Details
Audit Details
School Name
Wooragee Primary School
Address
Beechworth-Wodonga Road Wooragee VIC 3747 Australia (-36.290835, 146.723998)
Date
11/05/2015 2:03 pm
Auditors
David Hodgkins & Danielle Beischer
Wooragee Primary School - 5 -
School Area
Question
Response
Details
School Area
Wooragee Primary School - 6 -
Area of School Grounds
Question
Response
Details
Determine the size of the school in hectares using 1 or 2 methods
Google Earth Method
Area of the school using the Daft Logic Program
8,820 square metres
Trundle Wheel
Length by Width
Area in hectares
Divide square metres by 10,000
8,820 / 10,000. = 0.882 hectares
Wooragee Primary School - 7 -
School Map with Grid
Question
Response
Details
School Map with Grid
Wooragee Primary School - 8 -
Surfaces in School Grounds
Question
Response
Details
Complete this section using an aerial map of the school divided into squares 1. Use the map to calculate the percentage of surfaces of each category below. 2. The percentages of the surfaces should add up to 100%.
Built Structures
Area of one square
22 square metres
Number of squares covering the school grounds
400 squares
Number of squares covered by Built Structures
60 squares
Percentage cover of Built Structures
15%
Hard Impermeable Surfaces
Number of squares covering Hard Impermeable Surfaces
65 squares
Percentage cover of Hard Impermeable Surfaces
16.3%
Soft Surfaces - Garden beds containing Indigenous and Native Small Trees ( < 5
metres) and Shrubs
No of squares covered by garden beds with Native small trees and shrubs
5 squares
Percentage cover of Native small trees and shrubs
1.3%
Soft Surfaces - Garden beds with Exotic Tree and Shrub cover
No of squares covered by garden beds with Exotic Trees and Shrubs
45 squares
Percentage cover of Exotic Trees and Shrubs
11.3%
Soft Surfaces - Indigenous Grass cover
No of squares covering INDIGENOUS or NATIVE grasses
140 squares
Wooragee Primary School - 9 -
Question
Response
Details
Percentage cover of INDIGENOUS or NATIVE grasses
77.8%
Soft Surfaces - Exotic Grass cover
No of squares covered by EXOTIC grasses
40 squares
Percentage cover of EXOTIC grasses
10%
Ornamentals & Vegetable Gardens
No of squares covered by Ornamentals and Veggie Gardens
12 squares
Percentage cover of Ornamentals and Veggie Gardens
3%
Mulch cover
Number of squares covered by garden beds
95 squares
Number of squares of garden bed mulched
95 squares
Percentage of garden bed mulched
100%
Wooragee Primary School - 10 -
Tree Measurements
Question
Response
Details
Large Trees
Trees (including those that are dead) are an important component of an ecosystem as they provide food, shelter, and nesting space for many animals. Large trees often provide better habitat as they contain more hollows than small trees, however these hollows can take up to 120 years to form! Because they
are old, large trees are difficult to replace. Nesting boxes provide suitable alternative nesting spaces for
birds and animals if there are not any large trees with hollows in your study area.
Total Number of Trees
Number of trees ( >5 metres) in the school grounds
92
Number of trees per hectare in the school grounds
105
Habitat Trees
A Habitat tree provides nesting places for animals. They contain hollows, nests or nesting boxes. Habitat trees also provide food for birds and homes for insects.
Number of habitat trees in the school grounds
87
Number of Habitat trees per hectare in the school grounds
99
No of NATIVE habitat trees in the school grounds
87
No of NATIVE habitat trees per hectare in the school grounds
99
Trees Identified Red gum, Silver Wattle
Tree Habitat Score
Habitat Trees Score and Ranking
>20 trees/ ha (10)
Native Habitat Trees Score and Ranking
>20 trees/ ha (10)
Action Plan
Wooragee Primary School - 11 -
Question
Response
Details
Priority for Improvement (Number of Trees)
Opportunities for Improvement
Low
Priority for Improvement (Number of Habitat Trees)
Opportunities for Improvement
Low
Understory and Vegetation Structure
Wooragee Primary School
- 12 -
Question
Response
Details
Complete this section using a school map with grid overlay.
Vegetation can be classified into 3 separate layers: Overstory (plants greater than 5m tall); Understory (plants between 5m – 0.5 m); and the Herb layer (non-woody plants less than 0.5m in height).
The greatest richness of plant species at a site will almost always be found in the understory and herb layer level of an ecosystem. These plants are important because they provide a food source, shelter and create suitable conditions for larger plants to grow in (eg. shelter, shade and maintenance of soil moisture and nutrients).
Vegetation Layers
Overstory trees (>5 m)
Overstory trees (<5 m)
Understory - Shrub (1 - 5m)
Understory - Small shrub ( < 1m)
Understory - Scrambler/climber
Understory - Tall grass ( > 1m)
Herb layer - Fern
Herb layer - Orchid
Herb layer - Native grasses ( < 0.5m)
Herb layer - Moss/lichen
Herb layer - Other
Understory and other plants identified
Non-native / Ornamental
Canna, Geranium, Weeping mulberry, Rosemary, Nasturtium, Dietes,
Native Sweet bursaria, Dianella revoluta, native mint, other bush
tucker plants, acacia
Wooragee Primary School
- 13 -
Question
Response
Details
Herbs Abundant herbs
Vegetables Abundant vegetables
Understory Habitat Score
Number of understory boxes shaded (Plants between 0.5m and 5m)
168 squares
Percentage cover of understory = Number of understory boxes shaded x 100/Number of boxes covering the school ground
42%
Understory Score and Ranking
>25% Native
understory cover (25)
Action Plan
Priority for Improvement
Low
General Suggestions: managed well.
Environmental Weeds
Wooragee Primary School - 14 -
Question
Response
Details
Weeds are plants that grow in an area where they are not wanted. They are usually exotic species (however can also include native Australian species) and can compete with and limit the growth of indigenous plants. Weeds impact on native insects, birds and animals as they reduce the food source that indigenous plants provide.
Environmental weeds are plants that threaten natural ecosystems. They can invade native areas and out- compete the plants, resulting in a reduction of plant diversity and loss of habitat for native animals.
Environmental Weeds
Environmental weeds present in school grounds
0
Has action been taken to identify or remove weeds
Action taken
Weeds Identified
Nil
Environmental Weeds Score and Ranking
None present (15)
Action Plan
Priority for Improvement
Low
General Suggestions if weeds occur:
Short term (this year): Identify the environmental weeds in the study area, remove them or take action to ensure they do not spread. Weed control techniques include: hand weeding, slashing/mowing/seed head removal, ring-barking of weedy tree species, laying old carpet or black plastic over weed infested areas for a few weeks or months, burning, or use of herbicide (herbicides are dangerous chemicals and appropriate safety precautions must be taken when using these).
Long term (next 5 years): Regularly monitor the study area to ensure that weeds do not start growing accidentally or are planted.
Wooragee Primary School - 15 -
Organic Litter
Question
Response
Details
This section completed using school map with grid.
Organic litter is important because it provides habitat and a food source for many creatures such as insects, spiders and small reptiles. It also breaks down to provide soil nutrients, influences the soil microclimate (that is the temperature, moisture level, structure and composition) and influences which plants can grow where.
Organic Litter
Number of boxes in school map that have garden beds
49
Number of boxes that have garden beds covered in organic litter
49
Percentage Cover of Organic Litter = Number of boxes with organic litter x 100/Number of boxes with garden beds
Percentage Cover of Organic Litter in garden beds
100%
Organic Litter Score and Ranking
100% cover of organic
litter in gardens (10)
Action Plan
Priority for Improvement
Low
General Suggestions
Short term (this year) and Long term (next 5 years): Avoid excess tidying of remnant vegetation areas and retain all organic litter for habitat, maintain the health of trees by undertaking Landcare activities addressing local land degradation issues such as salinity, erosion, water quality, weeds and insect attack.
Wooragee Primary School - 16 -
Logs and Rocks
Question
Response
Details
Logs, whether small, large or rotting provide perfect shelter and nesting places for a range of different animals including echidnas, reptiles, spiders and insects. Logs also provide a food source for insect eating birds that forage around fallen logs and are an important habitat for frogs as they retain moisture.
Unfortunately, people often remove fallen logs from their property or from the bush for firewood – reducing the amount of habitat available for these species. Logs, whether small, large or rotting, provide shelter and nesting places for a range of different animals including echidnas, reptiles, spiders and insects. Logs also provide a food source for insect eating birds that forage around fallen logs. They are an important habitat for frogs as they retain moisture.
Logs & Rocks
Number of logs and rocks in the school grounds
>5
Number of logs and rocks / hectare
>5 per hectare
Logs and Rocks Score and Ranking
> 5 logs or rocks per hectare (5)
Action Plan
Priority for Improvement
Low
General Suggestions
Short term (this year) and Long term (next 5 years): Do not collect firewood from the area and place signs up explaining why, avoid excess tidying and introduce logs to the area (do not collect logs from other bushland areas, use logs that have fallen in gardens at school or at home).
Soil
Wooragee Primary School
- 17 -
Question
Response
Soil within the school ground can be managed by reducing soil erosion and compaction, limiting the use of pesticides and chemicals and mulching garden beds to return nutrients to the soil and retain water moisture.
Soil Management
Erosion in the school ground
no
Compaction in the school ground
no
Pesticide use in the school ground
no
Mulching of garden beds
yes
Management strategies in place to manage soil (e.g. Fenced areas, planting to reduce erosion etc)
yes
Soil Management Score and Rating
Soil managed effectively
(5)
Action Plan
Priority for Improvement
Low
General Suggestions: soil managed well.
Habitat Extras
Wooragee Primary School
- 18 -
Question
Response
Although natural areas such as parks and reserves provide best quality habitat for biodiversity, built environments such as schools, also play an important role. They provide a source of food, shelter, nesting space and corridors from one area to another.
Habitat Extras
Composting Area
Vegetable Garden / Orchard
Lizard Lounge
Plants and/or Animals in the classroom
Frog Pond/Wetland
Plan to decrease rubbish in the school ground
Bird bath
Plants in the school identified and labelled
Nesting boxes
List of animals (fauna) in the school maintained
Stick insect display, budgerigar
Indigenous food garden
Chooks
Herb garden
Garden furniture
Propagation table
Lids on bins or bins inside the school buildings
Wooragee Primary School
- 19 -
Habitat Extras
Response
Indigenous plant propagation
Limited spraying of chemicals in the school ground
Fallen branches and leaf litter remaining in garden beds
Water from taps used to water gardens
Native plants naturally regenerating
Hollows in trees present
Evidence of fauna eg wombat holes, koalas
Promotion of Biodiversity within School
Habitat Extras Ranking and Score
>10 boxes ticked (20)
Priority for Improvements
Low
Action Plan
Suggestions: Place plant species names within bushland area.
Wooragee Primary School
- 20 -
Question
Response
Details
Number of trees per hectare Maximum score is 10
10
Number of habitat trees per hectare Maximum score is 10
10
Well done here. You have kept the bushland area in good condition. Native vegetation is regenerating. Habitat trees have hollows and extra habitat has been added through the installation of nesting boxes.
Understory and vegetation structure Maximum score is 25
25
Plenty of regenerating understory in bushland area. Only a small grassed area is mown. The remaining grassed area is not mown allowing regeneration of overstory and understory vegetation.
Environmental weeds Maximum score is 15
15
No environmental weeds present. Great job.
Organic litter Maximum score is 10
10
Plenty of organic litter in bushland area. Organic litter also added to garden beds.
Logs and rocks Maximum score is 5
5
Granite rock outcrops in bushland area provide habitat for reptiles and insects. A great lizard lounge.
Soil management Maximum score is 5
5
The soil is stable throughout the school
grounds due to terracing, retaining walls
and careful placement of garden beds. The
bush land area has sufficient vegetation
cover that prevents movement of soils.
Habitat extras Maximum score is 20
20
All habitat extras covered. Well done.
School Habitat Score
100
General Comments
Perfect score. Very impressive and progressive school. The fact that students grow food and use produce is fantastic. They are also exposed to bush food and the nutritional value of these plants. School conscientiously encourages students to appreciate native vegetation. A healthy and positive environment.
