UNDERSTORY
Native Grid: Ecological Connectivity Database
Ecological Connectivity Database & SGBI Methodology
Adapted from the peer-reviewed Habitat Hectares method (Parkes et al. 2003) and urban habitat frameworks (Felgentreff et al. 2025), every garden is evaluated across five standardised dimensions (100 points total):
Evaluates provenance-weighted cover (locally indigenous = 1.0, non-local native = 0.5, exotic = 0.1, environmental weeds = 0). Enforces penalties for high-threat environmental weeds from the Sydney watchlist.
Assesses 6 multi-tiered vertical vegetation strata (canopy, tall shrubs, mid shrubs, groundcovers, native grasses/forbs, climbers) and calculates MacArthur foliage height diversity (Shannon entropy).
Calculates Simpson’s Diversity Index (1 - D) strictly on locally indigenous flora and compares species richness against native reference site benchmarks.
Checklist of 15 essential micro-habitats: tree hollows/nest boxes, standing/fallen dead wood, perennial water sources, dense thorny refuge thickets, leaf litter (≥25%), and unmulched soil for ground-nesting native bees.
Quantifies physical proximity to core remnant bushland (≤100m to >2km), surrounding indigenous canopy density, and property boundary permeability for ground fauna.
| Score | Band | Ecological Status | Strategic Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 – 100 | 5 — Reference | Approaching benchmark quality for native vegetation community | Preserve, monitor, and use as local seed/propagation source |
| 60 – 79 | 4 — Good | Most expected strata with substantial indigenous cover | Fill strata gaps, protect recruitment, expand connections |
| 40 – 59 | 3 — Moderate | Several strata present; indigenous cover below benchmark | Increase indigenous species ratio and add habitat features |
| 20 – 39 | 2 — Poor | Isolated indigenous plants, heavily simplified strata | Weed control, introduce mid/low shrub and ground strata |
| 0 – 19 | 1 — Depleted | Lawn, concrete, or non-native ornamentals; minimal habitat | Re-wilding redesign, reduce impervious surface, plant native shrubs |
Councils across southern and eastern Sydney have mapped the routes native wildlife uses to move between bushland, parks and gardens. The map shows three kinds of area:
The highest quality intact remnant vegetation communities that act as vital biodiversity reservoirs and genetic sources.
Crucial intermediary vegetation patches and large parks that provide essential food and resting stops for native fauna traveling between core habitats.
Urban matrix areas identified for canopy enhancement and private garden habitat creation to restore contiguous landscape connectivity.
When interacting with the map, observe the dandelion seed dispersal trajectories flowing between connected gardens and nearby remnant reserves. This represents wind-blown and bird-vectored propagule flow: as private gardens increase their SGBI score, ecological friction drops, and pollination vectors actively re-stitch the urban landscape.
Understory strictly prioritises homeowner and community privacy:
Database editing and polygon manipulation are restricted to authorized administrators. Enter the maintainer password to unlock Edit Mode: