Council’s local government area sits in a region known to have high biodiversity made possible by its landscape and climate. North Eastern NSW and South East QLD is in an overlay between tropical and temperate ecosystems known as the Macleay-McPherson Overlap.

It is the southern most limit for many tropical species as well as being the northern most limit for many temperate species. There are 413 species, five populations and 18 ecological communities listed as endangered or vulnerable in the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority area. This is a large area which extends from the Camden Haven River in the south to the Queensland border and 160 km inland.