Invertebrates, including insects, are the dominant faunal group in most terrestrial habitats.They play important roles, often completely misunderstood, in maintaining essential ecosystem services.

Despite the enormous environmental changes to the Australian continent since European settlement, and despite the lack of information about how these changes affected the native invertebrate fauna, it is not too late to include invertebrates in the management and restoration of native habitats throughout Australia and all other global regions and environments.

The National Institute of Entomology provides an overview and focal point of our understanding about terrestrial insects and related invertebrate groups within Australia and undertakes both research and community based educational courses to help elevate the profile and utility of invertebrates in conservation management.