Going for gold with biodiversity badges

Some of the city’s most eco-conscious residents are being rewarded for recording hundreds of native species at their properties.

The new Biodiversity Badge initiative recognises residents participating in Logan City Council’s Environmental Conservation Partnerships program, who actively observe and document native species on their properties.

The initiative encourages residents to learn more about the species on their properties and help contribute valuable data about local ecosystems to Council, by using the free online biodiversity database iNaturalist.

The badges initiative has 3 levels of recognition: gold, silver, and bronze.

Recipients are awarded a badge to proudly display on their fence to show their properties are home to hundreds of native plants and animals.

The very first recipient of the Gold Biodiversity Badge, Daniella Rothkugel, says the badges initiative encourages her to get out and document more flora on her regular morning walks.

ABOVE: Daniella Rothkugel is the inaugural Gold Biodiversity Badge recipient, for more than 300 native species.

‘Before I knew about the badges, I was keeping an eye on weeds and making sure my plants were thriving, but now I’m looking a bit closer and making sure everything I’m walking by, I’ve recorded,’ Daniella says.

‘In 2026 I’m looking forward to getting out and planting and recording even more – maybe they need a platinum badge!’

Silver badge recipient Ainsley Chase says the badge acknowledges the years of work she and her husband Max have put into their property, replacing invasive species with natives.

‘When we moved here it was just turf and weeds. We’ve gone in and planted a huge number of natives,’ Ainsley says.

She says the process of applying for a biodiversity badge encouraged her to keep an eye out for more wildlife on her property too.

‘I was already out looking for koalas and planting natives around the property, but now I want to go out, double check every tree and make sure I’ve noted each one.

‘We are absolutely going to get planting more natives and looking out for birds as the seasons change – we want that gold badge!’

To qualify for a Biodiversity Badge, landholders must be members of either Habitat Connections or Land for Wildlife.

These programs provide support and incentives to landholders committed to preserving and enhancing wildlife habitats on their properties.

As an added incentive, the first 5 Habitat Connections members and first 5 Land for Wildlife members to reach the Gold Biodiversity Badge level will each receive a fauna camera.

Residents can learn more about Biodiversity Badges and how to begin recording flora and fauna on their properties by visiting the Logan City Council website at: lccqld.com/bio-badge

Biodiversity Badge achievement levels for:

Land for Wildlife members
Gold: 300+ native species
Silver: 200+ native species
Bronze: 100+ native species

Habitat Connections members
Gold: 150+ native species
Silver: 100+ native species
Bronze: 50+ native species

PHOTO AT TOP: Silver badge recipients Ainsley and Max Chase.