The Perth Biodiversity Project (PBP) is a local government initiative supported by 30 Local Governments, the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA), the Perth Region NRM and the Australian Government through the Caring for Our Country program. Since its inception, the project worked in partnership with various organisations including the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), the Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) and Greening Australia WA. Local Governments participating in the Project are encouraged to become more involved in bushcare and biodiversity conservation.

The PBP supports participating Local Governments to implement the 'National Local Government Biodiversity Strategy' and the policy options in the publication, 'Beyond roads, rates and rubbish: opportunities for Local Government to conserve biodiversity'. These two documents provide a conceptual framework for the project.

The aim of the PBP is to support metropolitan Local Governments and the Shire of Chittering to use their functions and powers effectively to protect and manage natural areas. Local Natural Areas are defined as natural areas that exist outside of Bush Forever Sites (Swan Coastal Plain), the CALM Managed Estate and Regional Parks. Natural areas can be areas of native vegetation, vegetated or open water bodies (lakes, swamps), waterways (rivers, creeks and estuaries - often referred to as channel wetlands), springs, rock outcrops, bare ground (generally sand or mud), caves, coastal dunes or cliffs. Natural areas exclude parkland cleared areas, isolated trees in cleared settings, ovals and turfed areas.The history of PBP and Local Government involvement in biodiversity conservation is further outlined in the PBP's promotional booklet.

In 2002 the Perth Biodiversity Project undertook the Local Government Biodiversity Conservation Capacity Survey, in an effort to determine the capacity of Councils to conserve biodiversity, and gauge how best to assist Local Governments in the strategic protection of their remnant native vegetation. Five years on, PBP has again undertaken the Local Government Biodiversity Conservation Capacity Survey, to establish how Local Government capacity to conserve biodiversity has changed since 2002, assess the impact of the Local Government Biodiversity Planning Guidelines, PBP services, and other conservation initiatives, and help determine the future direction of the Project. The 2002 and 2007 Survey Analysis Reports are attached below.

Documents

• Capacity of Perth's Local Governments to Conserve Biodiversity (2007)
• Capacity of Perth's Local Governments to Conserve Biodiversity (2002)
  Biodiversity conservation capacity survey results of Local Governments.
• PBP Biodiversity Conservation Capacity Survey 2007
• Background to the Perth Biodiversity Project - Booklet
  An illustrated booklet outlining the origin and purpose of the Perth Biodiversity Project
• Memorandum of Understanding
  28 Local Governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Western Australian Local Government Association for the protection of native vegetation.
• Beyond Roads Rates and Rubbish: Opportunities for Local Government to Conserve Biodiversity
  National Local Government Biodiversity Strategy and the policy options in the publication.