Private Land Conservation – why does it matter?
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. It includes all the different plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, as well as the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity is essential for the functioning of our planet. It provides us with food, clean air and water, helps to regulate the climate, and forms significant, natural carbon sinks.
However, biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate. A recent study found that one million species are now threatened with extinction globally – more than ever before in human history. The main causes of biodiversity loss are driven by human processes and include habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and overexploitation.
In New South Wales, more than 70% of the land is privately owned. This means that private land conservation plays a vital role in protecting the state’s biodiversity.
Private land conservation is important for a number of reasons. First, it helps to protect threatened species and ecosystems. Second, it helps to maintain the provision of ecosyste
m services, such as pollination, water purification, carbon sequestration and climate regulation. Third, it provides opportunities for human recreation and education, and is integral to our collective well-being.
There are a number of ways to conserve biodiversity on private land. One way is to enter into a permanent conservation agreement with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT). These agreements provide financial and other incentives to landholders to protect their land for conservation purposes, and protect private land in perpetuity.
Another way to conserve biodiversity on private land is to participate in a land management program, such as Land for Wildlife, which provides landholders with advice and support on how to manage their land for conservation. This program is not legally binding and aims to engage landowners in sustainable land management, restoration and conservation. MidCoast2Tops Landcare is the regional provider of Land for Wildlife in our area, and invites any landowner with more than 0.5ha of moderate-to-good condition native vegetation on their property to apply for membership in the program. We will supply you with a personalised property report outlining habitat values, native plant communities and species, key threats and how to best manage them.
Get in touch if you would like to enrol in the Land for Wildlife program by filling out the Expression Interest form HERE. The more people involved in conservation on private land, the better our local environment and critters that live here will be.
