Nature Conservation Trust (NCT) supporters come from every walk of life but share one thing in common – they appreciate the critical role that private land conservation and its managers can play in biodiversity conservation. Below, three of our private land owners explain their motivations. If you are considering buying rural land of high conservation value, we hope you are inspired by those who have gone before you.
Bunhybee custodians
Learning about the NCT at a fair in 2008 changed the lives of Linda Spinaze and Roger Clarke. Soon after, they bought the NCT property Bunhybee Grasslands, in south-eastern NSW, and became passionate about conserving native grasslands.
“We have joined the local Landcare groups, attended weeding days, joined botanical walks to improve our native plant and animal identification skills, and peered through microscopes to learn how to distinguish one grass seed from another,” Linda said.
“Our knowledge of biodiversity and conservation has grown enormously. This exciting new direction has overtaken our lives and gives us another focus, where we can expand our energies.”
Content in The Bog
After realising their dream to own a bush property, Jimmy Malecki and Richard Reeg contacted the NCT to seek help in protecting their beautiful 39 hectares near the Bundjalung State Conservation Area, in northern NSW. Applying a NCT conservation land covenant met all of their conservation goals.
“Over six months we developed a special relationship with the knowledgeable NCT staff as we put our conservation agreement in place,” said Jimmy. “One of the best days for us was putting the sign on the gate declaring our land as a ‘Protected Habitat’.
“The coastal emus on The Bog are part of an endangered and very isolated population. We also have Australia’s largest tidal pool and wetlands of national significance and two endangered ecological communities.
“We hope that more rural property owners will consider joining the NCT covenanting program so that, together, we can ensure Australia’s biodiversity is protected for the future.”
A new way out west
Central West landholder Andrew Knop protected 730 hectares of bushland on his property near Dubbo with a NCT covenant.
“A land covenant protects native bushland and the wildlife it supports for future generations and helps to preserve all your hard work,” said Andrew. “Putting a conservation land covenant on my property means the restoration works will be protected forever.”
Andrew’s property forms part of the Sappa Bulga Ranges, which is a significant remnant of native vegetation in a landscape that has been largely cleared and modified for agriculture.
There are two endangered ecological communities on his property – box-gum woodland and fuzzy box woodland – and a number of threatened bird species, including the glossy black-cockatoo. The property also has potential habitat for many more threatened animal and plant species.
If you already own a rural property or are considering buying rural land, please contact the NCT for more information about conservation land covenants and how to best protect your rural land for the future.
