Sustainable dentistry module 5: How-to guide: Biodiversity, green space, and climate change

Why is it important?

Halting and reversing biodiversity loss around the world is critical in the fight against climate change, and to ensure the continuity of the ecosystems that we rely on for survival. The diversity of species is important, not only because each species impacts many others, but because it provides resilience against changing conditions caused by factors such as climate, land use and the spread of pathogens.

Currently, biodiversity is collapsing worldwide (including in Australia). This has been described as the ‘sixth mass extinction event in geological history’. (3) This may seem irrelevant in our everyday professional lives, but we can’t ignore it. We jeopardise our future if we continue with business as usual, without taking immediate action to mitigate the threats to biodiversity and contributors to climate change.

On 20 March 2023, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published the final section of its sixth assessment report (Synthesis Report, Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report). (4) The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, summarised the report as follows: “This report is a clarion call to massively fast-track climate efforts by every country and every sector and on every timeframe. Our world needs climate action on all fronts: everything, everywhere, all at once.”

How can I play a part?

Your local council is the best place to start looking for opportunities and available support and resources to support biodiversity in your local area.

Different opportunities are available depending on whether the practice owner owns or rents the land on which the practice is located, and on how much space is available.

Some dental practices will be able to adapt their premises including the roof, walls and or garden (if you have one). (5) Where you are unable to create or modify a green space, other options are available to you such as supporting local community projects, e.g. local food growing. You can choose what is most practicable, depending on your situation.

You may only be able to implement a small measure, however, a commitment to starting locally, with small, manageable steps is key. 

This section focuses on improving habitats around your dental practice, which can benefit both staff, patients, and the local ecosystem. (5) If you find you’re unable to implement any of the suggestions in this section, pick a different section and start there.

Real life example

The Sutherland Shire Council in Sydney, NSW, provides a range of resources to its residents to support local biodiversity, e.g.

• A Greenweb program which helps property owners care for native habitats on their land. The program aims to preserve bush habitats for the benefit of native flora and fauna. Greenweb grants are provided to restore or improve bushland on private properties.

• A native plant selection tool that can assist in selecting the best native plants for the area.

• Waste workshops including composting and growing organic vegetables in pots.

• Free sustainability kits to help determine home appliance efficiency, identify air leaks and insulation gaps, and provide other information to make changes in your home.

Check out your local council website and give them a call today. Don’t be afraid to tell them about programs offered in other councils and states and ask for the same!

5a. How to: Create a wildlife-friendly garden

Why is it important?

Green space within a city encompasses everywhere vegetation grows. Within a dental setting, it applies if the dental practice or surrounding grounds have any kind of green area or garden, which can improve air quality, and provide protection against floods and heatwaves. Gardens are a significant contributor to urban biodiversity by providing food and shelter. They help to connect habitats split apart by urban landscapes, and can even form a complete habitat for certain species of insects and smaller animals. (5, 2)

What does sustainable practice look like?
 
Native Gardens

To maximise the biodiversity in your practice’s green space, native plants are ideal. (5) They provide foraging resources for many endemic bees and attract numerous species of birds and butterflies in urban areas. (6)

A native garden can entice local wildlife and feed them naturally. Contact your local council to find out what flora and fauna (including insects) are native to your local area. Many local councils provide information and support to set up a native garden or haven. Some state government websites also provide this information. 

Trees

Where possible, planting trees has a broad range of benefits including offsetting carbon emissions (long term), provision of shade, and increased habitat. Advice should be sought from your local council or horticulture specialist regarding the most appropriate type of native tree for your area and soil type. (2, 7)

Alternatives to lawn

In general, lawn maintenance consumes a significant amount of water, energy, and fertiliser. The requirement for resources can be reduced by replacing lawns with native grasses that are low maintenance and drought resistant, and have the appearance of a lawn. Alternatively, lawns could be replaced with non-woody plants, permeable surfaces (e.g. gravel or pebbles), and ground cover. (7,8)

Natives in pots

If you haven’t got the space for an in-ground garden, but do have space for a pot, you can still attract and provide for wildlife. Gardening Australia has a useful video and resource - Pots for Wildlife

Water management for your garden

Seek advice on best practice garden design for minimising water use. Many resources are available online. The Australian Government website, YourHome (7) is a great place to start learning.

Some simple tips to begin with include:

• Choose plants that don’t require a lot of water, e.g. Australian natives.

• Group flora with similar water requirements together.

• Know the soil types in your garden and improve soil quality to increase its water retention.

• Use lots of mulch to maximise water retention.

• Investigate installing drip irrigation and soil moisture sensors.

Water loss can be minimised through efficient watering practices such as watering deeply and infrequently, and watering early or late in the day. (8)

Pesticides

The loss of insect populations and biodiversity worldwide is a matter of great concern. A 2019 review revealed that nearly 40% of all insect species could face extinction in the coming years. Chemical pollution, including pesticides, was identified as the second leading cause of this decline, with climate change ranking fourth. (9)

This decrease in insect populations will have far-reaching consequences, affecting all organisms that rely on them for food. Although other insect species may replace those that become extinct, the impact on agriculture, flora, and fauna will be disastrous. (10)

To address this issue, the review recommended a significant reduction in the use of pesticides worldwide and the adoption of sustainable practices based on ecological principles to decelerate the decline of global insect populations and support the recovery of the ecosystems they support. (9)

For information on alternatives to using pesticides in your garden check out the resources below.

Alternative habitats

If you don’t have the time, resources or inclination for gardening, there are other opportunities to attract local wildlife, e.g.

• Nest and possum boxes provide a safe habitat where natural tree hollows are limited. (5)

• Birdbaths are a great source of water and relief for animals during drought and extreme heat. Areas of standing water such as containers filled with water or even larger ponds can also help attract insects, birds and amphibians. (Ensure any water feature is in a secure location that does not create a risk of harm to small children or pets.) (5)

• Habitats for insects including solitary bees (‘bee hotels’) can be encouraged by making insect homes using bamboo canes tied together. (5)

Real life example

Robert and Lisa run a sustainable dental practice in Beaconsfield, Victoria. They have built a garden outside the practice, filled with native plants (both edible and ornamental) from their local area including Victoria’s floral emblem, the Common (pink) Heath and Australia’s floral emblem, the Golden Wattle. It also contains a vegetable garden to promote sustainability and healthy eating. The garden is irrigated by a drip sprinkler system, fed by rainwater tanks to conserve water.

The practice itself is decorated with photos of Indigenous plants from the garden to highlight the importance of Indigenous flora. One of their patients painted Victoria’s floral emblems onto their water tanks. Robert and Lisa see active promotion of the emblems as essential to their preservation.

Modelled example

Bill is an associate dentist at a rural dental practice, which recently decided to redevelop their small back garden to try and provide a space for staff to enjoy and to encourage local biodiversity.

They consulted with their local council and decided to build a small pond, plant a variety of trees and shrubs, grow some beans, and provide two bird feeders.

This took some time and involved input from all staff members, who were encouraged to contribute ideas during two staff meetings. The resulting area has become a staff favourite for lunch and there are plans to plant more vegetables during the coming year. Bill regularly hears frogs around the pond area and has noticed several species of finch have begun to nest in the garden. (5)