The government will spend five years drafting action statements for the almost 2000 species on the new list, which includes the black falcon.

That critically endangered raptors' numbers have fallen 38 per cent in 20 years Australia-wide and scientists suspect Victorian populations are in decline.

It is thought to roam through central Victoria and large tracts of the rest of the country.

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A state government biodiversity boss has warned that reversing collapses in biodiversity will only work if their approach focuses on outcomes for a broad range of species and habitats.

The Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning's biodiversity chief James Todd has told a state parliamentary inquiry that prioritising the most threatened species would ignore the "tide" of other plants and animals needing help.

"Our approach will continue to focus on what is going to deliver the best outcomes for the most number of species," he said.

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The inquiry finished its hearings last week and its findings could help shape responses to a biodiversity crisis in places like central Victoria, where the City of Greater Bendigo is asking for public feedback on its own draft environmental plans.

The draft includes hard targets for 2026 including no net loss of tree and shrub cover and a baseline assessment of local biodiversity, the council's acting climate change and environment director Liam Sibly said.

"In some ways biodiversity breakdown actually represents a bigger risk than climate change because if we lose our reproductive cycles then our food systems go out the door," he said.

"So the council is taking it really seriously."

Mr Sibly said discussions are underway on targets for habitat for some animals, including reintroducing the "magnificent six" in sections of the Bendigo Creek by 2026.

Those species of small native fish include southern pygmy perch.

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All thrived in the region's water bodies until the late 20^th century when changes to habitat and water flows decimated populations.

Landing on targets to arrest the decline of species remains a complex question, Mr Sibly said.

"Stopping extinction of some of these threatened species is really hard because there are so many threats in so many different areas," he said.

"That said, creating habitat and looking after their food systems is something we can have influence over.

"One question I would like to see answered is on whether we can connect up some patches of bush. Central Victoria's quite lucky that there is still some remnant vegetation around.

"if we can create corridors to them that will leave some of these species with some great habitat to survive in and move between."

To comment on the council's draft plan visit www.letstalkgreaterbendigo.com.au

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