THE Mid Coast region is an area with rich biodiversity.

Sadly there are species in the region that need action to survive.

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The fauna species that Council has identified for priority action in the Draft Roadmap For Managing Our Natural Environment includes, threatened shorebirds (little tern, pied oystercatcher), our squirrel glider population at Forster the yellow-bellied gliders at Smiths Lake, the Manning River helmeted turtle, giant dragonfly, the grey-crowned babbler population at Gloucester the koala and the long-nosed potoroo.

There are also three flora species identified the Manning threatened eucalypts (narrow-leaved red gum and slaty red gum), Guthrie’s grevillea, and the Threatened terrestrial orchids (Wingham doubletail, Tuncurry midge orchid).

Matt Bell Council’s Senior Ecologist told News Of The Area, “There are various actions required to protect these species.

“Some species are poorly understood and we would look to partner with others to undertake surveys and investigate the species status, population trends and recovery needs.

“Some species are quite well known and Council needs to liaise with the community, other agencies and interested organisations to assist protect and conserve habitat or manage threats.

“For threatened shorebirds, it involves protecting nesting sites from disturbances, dog and fox predation and natural events.

“For the Manning River helmeted turtle it is protecting and managing important refuges and minimising nest losses by controlling pigs and foxes.

‘For the squirrel glider at Forster, it is about conserving and expanding habitat and linkages and reducing impacts of cat predation through encouraging responsible pet ownership,” he said.

By Marian SAMPSON