Private landholders
Private landholders, passionate and knowledgeable about their land, are playing an ever more important role in building the National Reserve System.
Whilst national parks and reserves are the backbone of the National Reserve System network, many vulnerable plants, animals and critical habitats exist only on private land that is not for sale. Increasingly farmers and graziers are finding an alternative route to conservation, by voluntarily placing perpetual covenants over parts of their working properties. In this way, they know that they are helping to protect valuable habitat and leaving the land better off for future generations.
Along the agricultural zones of the southern and eastern seaboard and in Tasmania, where so much of the land is fragmented by residential development and agriculture, private protected areas are desperately needed to extend the National Reserve System. By linking belts of privately protected land to the existing havens of national parks and reserves, we can protect our water resources and extend the habitat range for our wildlife in the face of climate change.
Over the last decade or so, more than 2,000 farmers and graziers have placed conservation covenants on parts of their working properties. South Australia leads the way, with more than 1,400 covenanted properties. In Tasmania, there are more than 300 individual covenants, with over 100 negotiated as part of the innovative Protected Areas on Private Land Program. Complementing the gazetted public reserves system, an extraordinary network of committed and experienced landholders, are addressing critical gaps in the National Reserve System on their land.
Landholders get government support, which can include relief from rates and taxes, equipment and expert advice. Local partners help draw up management plans which take into account both the need to manage for conservation with the fundamental requirement to maintain a viable working property.
These farmers are finding it possible to look after the environment and run a profitable business at the same time. Many farmers are finding new markets and a 'green' profit premium by badging their products as environmentally sustainable.
Adding private land to the National Reserve System
Private landholders retain ownership of their properties, but enter into a voluntary conservation agreement.
Depending on the arrangements in each of the states various organisations from the state conservation agency, Natural Resource Management Groups, Catchment Management Authorities, farming organisations and other local environment organisations will help you draw up a management plan for your property. They will also advise you on appropriate government funding.
Conservation covenants for farmers
If you own a property with significant conservation value, we can help you with funding, to establish it, or a part of it, as a protected area. You can either gazette the property or enter into a nature conservation covenant agreement. Gazetting the property is simply a formal declaration of protection of an area.
A conservation covenant is a voluntary agreement between a landholder and the state or territory to conserve the natural environment on the property. It becomes a legally binding commitment tied to the title of the land in perpetuity. Future owners, therefore, are also bound to the conservation management commitment.
Landowners are expected to:
- Supply at least one-third of the establishment costs, and cover the full costs of ongoing management.
- Enter into a contract with the state or territory agency involving an on-going commitment to manage the property and report on management outcomes.
- Develop and implement a management plan and monitoring program.
Ownership and management of land rests with the landholder who agrees to meet international standards in conservation management. Read more about conservation covenants.
The security of a protected area brought into the National Reserve System is fundamental and requires areas to be 'managed by legal or other effective means' for the long term. The contract will be a public document often involving the state or territory conservation agency. The standards for security are contained in the Directions for the National Reserve System - A Partnership Approach.
All Australian Governments are recognising the importance and value of engaging farmers and graziers and their expertise to help achieve regional, state and national conservation objectives through conservation covenants. In doing so there are an increasing number of funding programs to support landholders to manage the conservation values on their land. More information
Read about criteria and how to apply for funding.
Contacts
The mechanisms for adding private land to the National Reserve System vary from state to state. Click here for more information.