Voluntary Conservation Factsheets

Far Northerners who want to better protect native vegetation on their properties can now access an information pack outlining all the options.

Terrain NRM’s Tony O’Malley said many people put a lot a lot of work into maintaining habitat on their properties.

“Some property owners might want their investment to be more secure in the long run,’’ he said.

“A series of new factsheets make it easier for people to find out about the range of options available, and to see which of them might suit their situation.”

The information pack was prepared by the Environmental Defenders Office, following a request from Terrain NRM.

“These factsheets cover voluntary programs including nature refuges, statutory covenants, conservation agreements and voluntary declarations,” the Environmental Defender’s Office’s Kirstiana Ward said.

“Landowners can volunteer to place environmental covenants or other protections over their land. These protections are negotiated between landholders and the Queensland, Commonwealth or local government. Protections can be for various periods of time, and can still apply when land changes owners.”

Mr O’Malley said four Kuranda landholders were currently working with Kuranda Conservation, Terrain NRM and Queensland Trust for Nature to create nature refuges on their land. There are more than 100 nature refuges already in place in the Wet Tropics region.

“We can provide resources, like covering the costs of a nature refuge assessment for landholders with important habitat, and potentially helping with revegetation or weed control as part of our Rebuilding Rainforest Resilience project,’’ he said.

“A lot of important Wet Tropics habitat is actually on private land. We are keen to help people with habitat or corridors for threatened species.

“We want to make it easier for people who are passionate about their patch to preserve it well into the future. The Environmental Defenders Office factsheets are a great new resource.”