They contain a lot of bio-diversity, especially the birds and animals we see day to day.

The diversity of plants and animals in bushland is surpris-ing, and not apparent at a first glance.

More than 800 native plant species occur in the Newcastle – Lake Macquarie area, as well as at least 23 types of forest and woodland vegetation.

Vegetation types are normally described by the physical form of plants and which species are present.

Eucalypts dominate forests and wood-lands. Tree cover is more sparse in woodlands often because of infertile soils, or drier, more fire prone sites.

Heath ecosystems occur on sandy soils, or poorly drained exposed sites.

These normally have low vegetation or few trees, and mostly are in small patches along the coast.

Soils and rocks below the surface often explain the variation in where plants occur.

Many are very sensitive to minor chemical or physical differences such as drainage, and have adapted to changing environmental conditions over millions of years.

It is interesting to observe the close interrelationships between plants and animals in forest and woodland ecosystems.

Many plants require insects such as native bees, ants or birds to pollinate their flowers and to set seed.

Periodic bush fires also maintain the variety of plant species, and micro-organisms.

Native animals such as the Northern Brown Bandicoot, a flagship species for heath ecosystems in Lake Macquarie, help to maintain the natural processes.

Our forests, woodland and heath eco-systems are being progressively being cleared for new urban development, reducing habitat for at least 40 species already listed as threatened with extinction in NSW, such as the Powerful Owl.

Together with other large forest owls, this species relies on large old trees with hollows for nesting and roosting.

Each pair of owls needs about 1000 hectares of forest to survive.

Remember that hundreds of hectares of woodland are required for a family group of Grey Kangaroos to survive.

As these areas often border roads traffic accidents are a major cause of wildlife deaths, so slow down to 80 kilometres an hour near bushland, especially at dusk.

>> Next week The Star will continue its look at biodiversity with more about frogs.