The Perth Biodiversity Project originated in 1999 when the WA Local Government Association, the Federal Bushcare Program and leading Perth Local Governments recognised the need to encourage to Local Governments to become more involved in bushcare and biodiversity conservation. These organisations recognised that Local Governments would need financial and technical assistance to do this.

In 2002 and 2007 Local Governments’ Capacity to Conserve Biodiversity Survey Analysis Reports were produced by the PBP. The first survey, undertaken in 2002 was designed 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. In 2007, PBP again surveyed Local Governments to establish how Local Government capacity to conserve biodiversity has changed since 2002, assess the impact of PBP’s key guiding document Local Government Biodiversity Planning Guidelines (link to new Publications folder), PBP services, and other conservation initiatives, and help determine the future direction of the Project.

28 Local Governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, with the Western Australian Local Government Association for the protection of native vegetation.

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.

Since its inception, PBP has 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.

The history of PBP and Local Government involvement in biodiversity conservation is further outlined in the PBP's promotional booklet, Background to the Perth Biodiversity Project.