Trust for Nature’s commitment to environmental education has been a core part of the organisation since our establishment nearly 40 years ago. But Victoria’s endangered ecologies will only be protected if there is investment in educating and supporting those volunteers who manage the covenanted land.

Trust for Nature recognises that our covenant holders and local committees are at the front line of conservation in Victoria, and are the best placed to monitor their bushland. By providing these people with information on the endangered species that call their property home, covenant holders and local committees are in a better position to actively protect the bush for everyone.

For example, wouldn’t we all like to know how to care for a Southern Brown Bandicoot, if we found one living in our backyard? And how to foster the plant species it relies upon?

The Southern Brown Bandicoot is listed as a nationally endangered species. It has also been recorded on several Trust for Nature covenants, using them as vitally important habitat. By empowering covenant holders and local committees (through workshops, publications, monitoring & specialist advice) we are able to ensure that such habitat remains available to species like the Southern Brown Bandicoot, amongst others.

The Trust for Nature supports local, small group and individual education of land managers to protect endangered species. We ask that you consider co-investing with us to ensure that current and future generations of landholders and managers know how to protect Victoria’s endangered ecologies forever.

Photo: Rolf Willig

Trust for Nature is pleased to release a state-wide map of conservation covenants

9 March 2010

Since the first signing of a conservation covenant in 1987, Trust for Nature has entered into over 960 covenant agreements, covering an area approaching 40,000 hectares. In addition, Trust for Nature has acquired many sites of natural significance that have either been transferred to the public estate as conservation reserves or retained as conservation properties by the Trust. Currently Trust for Nature owns about 50 properties totalling more than 35,000 hectares of native habitat. This remarkable achievement has been made possible through public support for Trust for Nature's work, through philanthropic organisations, state and federal funding, and multiple partnerships with Victorian agencies and environmental organisations over the years. Interest in Trust for Natures covenant program continues to mount.

Interest in Trust for Natures covenant program continues to increase. However, as more private vegetation across Victoria is permanently protected under the covenant program, there is a need to manage the risks associated with placement of services and infrastructure as our regional and semi-urban populations grow. Managing and minimising this risk to the privately-protected estate of native vegetation requires cooperation between governing authorities, development companies, landholders, and Trust for Nature.

Therefore, Trust for Nature is pleased to release a state-wide map of conservation covenants and Trust for Nature-owned properties. The objective of the map is to assist project development managers and contractors in flagging potential impact on covenanted land and to reduce the risk of damage to covenanted land. A higher resolution map is available for download and distribution (pdf). If you believe your project will impact upon a covenant or Trust for Nature property, we encourage you to contact Trust for Nature for referral to the relevant Regional Manager in your area. Planners may also wish to acquire a GIS layer of the covenants and properties by contacting the GIS Manager at Trust for Nature, via the head office.

Much of our natural bush (grasslands, wetlands, forests and heathlands), is on privately owned land and these precious ecosystems are increasingly threatened. When cleared, we will lose not only beautiful landscapes, but also the diversity of plants and animals that they support.

These remnants of natural bush contain complex ecosystems (rare in public parks or reserves) and even subtle changes can alter these, leading to a loss of diversity that is difficult to repair.

With nearly 70 per cent of Victoria cleared of bush it is crucial we act now to conserve and enhance what little remains of unprotected bush left on Victorian private land.

Australia is already witnessing the impact of climate change.  Trust for Nature is ready to act but we need your help to save Victoria's natural bushlands forever.

Trust for Nature provides land protection, management support and monitoring, purchases and on-sells private land through its Revolving Fund and accepts donations of private land for conservation via gifts or bequests.

Consider donating to Trust for Nature today!