When Europeans first arrived in Victoria, some of the ecosystems had already been altered by Aborigines, especially through the use of fire. But since then, every ecosystem in the Victoria has been affected by the consequences of European settlement. Almost two-thirds of the State has been largely cleared of native vegetation, and many of our rivers and streams have been vastly altered. At one extreme — the high-density cities and towns — most of the natural ecological communities have been eliminated.

Earlier in Victoria’s colonial history there were concerted efforts to make cities and towns more like the familiar places of Europe. By planting exotic trees, the settlers tried to create landscapes reminiscent of their homelands. Many of these places, such as the north-eastern township of Bright, retain a sense of beauty and history, but they also highlight the difference, diversity and uniqueness of our native landscapes.

In the past we have brought, both consciously and inadvertently, many alien species to Victoria. In vastly modified environments many of these exotic species have survived, usually displacing all but the widespread and opportunistic native species, such as the Brush-tailed Possum and the Sweet Pittosporum.

Introduced species are dominant in our living areas, but native flora and fauna, although altered and depleted, survive in some areas and can even increase with proper management. In inner suburban Melbourne, for example, roosting fruit bats, nesting Peregrine Falcons, a colony of penguins, and patches of native grasslands are a few examples of populations that have been able to survive or recolonise. Many once-degraded urban areas are being restored to recreate parts of our biological heritage. Here, the return of the Sacred Kingfisher and Platypus have been celebrated by locals as symbols of restoration.

Urbanisation has also produced artificial habitats for certain species, or enabled fragments of habitat to be preserved. For example, the Cheetham Saltworks and Melbourne Water’s Werribee sewage treatment plant, now extremely important for international migratory birds; abandoned mine shafts, which may be occupied by bats; and roadsides, railway reservations, buffer zones around industrial sites and quarries, which can sometimes provide habitat for rare grassland species.

The parts of human-created environments that are significant for biodiversity may be at risk from the increased fragmentation of remnants, inappropriate management, and urbanisation. The risks are being identified and minimised as our understanding of this complex environment increases. In these environments active restoration can make an invaluable contribution to biodiversity conservation. For example, the installation of ‘fish ladders’ at Dights Falls on the Yarra River has enabled native fish to recolonise the catchment above the falls for the first time in many years.