New koala conservation agreements in Armidale and Uralla will permanently protect another 4,148 hectares of habitat on private land.
The NSW Government says they are committed to ensuring the long-term survival of koalas in the wild. The included 1,692 hectares koala habitat is now protected, forever, and makes a significant contribution to the survival of this iconic species.
Private land conservation is the protection of native species and habitat on privately-owned land. Landholders enter into a long-term agreement to maintain and enhance biodiversity on their properties.
“The conservation agreement means we can put funds into active conservation management for koalas on our property,” said Armidale’s Peter Lloyd, one of the locals involved.
“Having an agreement in-perpetuity means we can hand this land over knowing it will be protected forever.”
Peter’s property, Wallamara, which he co-owns with Gary Swanson and Richard Bird, is 40 kilometres southeast of Armidale.
The agreements struck between private landholders and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust have been registered on title and will protect important habitat for koalas, as well as the regent honeyeater and critically endangered native vegetation.
The Northern Inland Koala conservation tender invited landholders to set a price to protect significant habitat on their land.
“Koalas are an endangered species in NSW and habitat loss poses the greatest threat to their survival,” NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust CEO Erin Giuliani said.
“The tender area, taking in the Armidale and Uralla Local Government Areas, is known to support high quality patches of koala habitat and was prioritised for investment under the NSW Koala Strategy.”
“Koala habitat in this region mainly occurs on privately-owned land. Landholders play a critical role in securing a future for koalas in NSW.”
Almost $9 million has been invested in the tender so far, with successful landholders to receive annual payments under agreed management plans which may include activities such as pest animal and weed control, fencing and revegetation.
Payments are made to landholders to manage their conservation areas under an agreement with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust. Agreed management actions may include activities such as pest animal and weed control, fencing and revegetation.
These agreements mean that the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust has achieved its 2025 goal to secure 200,000 hectares of private land under conservation agreements a full 12 months earlier than predicted.
“The conservation efforts of landholders across NSW are critically important to preserve habitat and protect our endangered species, especially koalas,” Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said.
“This tender means we have already reached our target of protecting 200,000 hectares of private land by 2025, and secured quality habitat for koalas in one of the highest priority areas in the state, forever.
“It’s wonderful to be able to announce these conservation agreements during Save the Koala Month.
“More than 70% of land is privately owned in NSW, so these agreements are vital to add to the growing network of protected koala habitat across the state.”
Top image: (Left to right) Gary Swanson, Richard Bird and Peter Lloyd will protect vegetation on their New England property, Wallamara, southeast of Armidale, with annual conservation management payments from the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust. (Nviro Media; supplied)
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