Central West landholders have responded with enthusiasm to the launch of a new covenanting program by the Nature Conservation Trust of NSW. The program focuses on protecting natural bushland on private property in the Central West through permanent Conservation Covenants (also known as a Trust Agreements) with the NCT.
The program's Expression of Interest period has just closed and we have received a number of excellent applications from landholders with properties ranging from 60 hectares up to more than 700 hectares in size. Staff in the Nature Conservation Trust's Central Region will now undertake an assessment process to select the final properties for the program. This will focus on the type of native vegetation present, the size of the area, the location of the vegetation in relation to other patches of vegetation, and the presence of important plants and animals such as Glossy Black Cockatoos, Swift Parrots and Diamond Firetails.
Funding will be provided by the Central West Catchment Management Authority (Central West CMA) to successful applicants to contribute to on-ground works such as feral animal and weed control, fencing and improving habitat for wildlife. The Nature Conservation Trust will also provide support to participating landholders through its Monitoring and Support Program, offering management advice, information and assistance.
"Native vegetation in the Central West Catchment has been highly modified and remnants of bushland on private land provide important hubs of biodiversity to help maintain regional landscape health," said Danielle Smetana, Project Officer with the Nature Conservation Trust. "Protecting these remnants is vital if we are to ensure the survival of our unique plants and animals."
This Central West Conservation Covenant Program is a joint project between the Nature Conservation Trust and the Central West CMA, supported by the Australian Government's Caring for our Country initiative.
For further information about the program, please click here, or contact Danielle Smetana in our Orange office on 02 6365 7881 or by email.
