Making Waverley Nature Positive

Waverley is home to many iconic, rare and threatened species. Being ‘Nature Positive’ means halting and reversing the loss of nature so that species and ecosystems can be restored and recover.

Increasing tree canopy and understorey will maximise opportunities to support and connect local native animal and plant species and assist natural systems to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

In 2023, Waverley adopted an Urban Greening and Cooling Strategy to guide decisions and investments that coordinate the protection and management of urban trees and vegetation.

As part of this strategy, Council committed to new targets of 35% Green Cover by 2032, comprising of 20% canopy cover and 15% shrub and ground cover.

LGA-wide canopy target

LGA-wide green cover target*

*includes canopy, shrub and vegetated ground cover

The journey to Nature Positive

Achieving Waverley’s Urban Greening and Cooling targets is a shared responsibility. While Council maintains trees and vegetation in streets and parks, a recent aerial study shows significant loss of trees and soil deep enough to maintain existing vegetation on private land. If current rates of loss continue, it will be impossible to harness the cooling benefits of vegetation as temperatures rise.

Community-led actions that you can partake in to help Waverley become Nature Positive include:

• Retaining canopy trees on your property;
• Minimising the loss of deep soil;
• Reporting tree vandalism;
• Requesting a tree on your street;
• Turning your garden into a native habitat with free plants and guidance through Council’s Living Connections program;
• Applying to create a verge garden;
• Joining Bushcare; and
• Participating in local greening activities.

Together, we can make Waverley Nature Positive.

In the map below, you can see street and park tree species in each suburb in the LGA (as of 2022).