RATEPAYERS may be asked to pay an environmental levy to help the Shire of Augusta Margaret River maintain the region's status as an international biodiversity hotspot.
The shire said it was struggling to finance the protection and maintenance of biodiversity on its reserves and would consider asking ratepayers to subsidise the specific cost.
The biogeographic region of south west Australia stretching from Shark Bay in the north to Israelite Bay in the south is the only Australian region recognised as an international biodiversity hotspot.
It is one of only 25 identified worldwide by Conservation International, a non-profit environmental organisation based in Washington in the USA.
Separated from the rest of the continent by desert, more than 1500 mostly endemic plants have evolved in the region over millennia, including marri and karri trees.
The area is also home to endangered endemic mammals such as the numbat and the dibbler, as well as the western swamp turtle.
However, encroachment threats on shire land such as weeds, salinity, land clearing, fungal root rot, changed fire regimes and feral animals meant unique natural values were at risk.
At last week's shire council meeting, councillor Lyn Serventy recommended the shire look at bringing in an environmental levy to look after the biodiversity of all shire reserves.
"We really struggle to allocate money to looking after and maintaining the biodiversity on our reserves," Cr Serventy said.
The shire last considered a $10 environmental levy in 2010-11 but decided not to proceed.
It already spends about $100,000 a year on biodiversity management and a levy would add to those coffers.
A report to council from the shire's Strategic Advisory Comm ittee said setting up the levy would be complex and require community support.
It stated the levy funds could be used to establish ongoing environmental controls along major tourist routes such as Wallcliffe and Caves roads, post-fire management environmental applications, extensive weed control throughout class-A reserves and establishment of ecological corridors.
The levy will be further considered at the council's next Strategic Planning Day in November.
