Almost 18 months after the devastating Black Summer bushfires, north east Victoria is displaying true resilience as the local flora and fauna steadily return.

A partnership project between Trust for Nature and the North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has been working to support bushfire-impacted landholders with conservation covenants through funding from the Australian Government’s Bushfire Recovery package for wildlife and their habitat.

The primary objective of this partnership has been to support the recovery of high-value Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) listed habitat on private land through activities such as fencing to restrict access, developing post-fire management plans, and implementing monitoring regimes.

This work on fire-affected conservation covenants supports habitat for EPBC-listed species, including the Alpine Tree Frog, Greater Glider and Phantom Wattle. Other threatened species include the Fan Grevillea and Green Grevillea, both recovering well on conservation covenants in the Upper Murray.

Trust for Nature’s North East Conservation Officer Shae Brennan said, “The return of threatened species in these severely impacted landscapes is encouraging and highlights the importance of supporting landholders who permanently protect remnant vegetation.”

“As we draw to the conclusion of this project, it is encouraging to see the positive outcomes that have been achieved,” Shae said.

Trust for Nature and the North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) have announced  recipients of the second round of environmental grants through the Bush for Birds project.

Bush for Birds is funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and aims to protect, manage, and increase habitat on private land for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot.

Trust for Nature’s Regional Manager Will Ford said environmental grants for the Bush for Birds Project were once again well subscribed.

“We had 68 Expressions of Interest for this second round of funding. There’s great enthusiasm among landholders in the region to do their bit for threatened species conservation,” Will said

North East CMA Biodiversity Senior Project Officer Mark Cairns said Regent Honeyeaters and Swift Parrots are in a perilous state.

“They are listed as critically endangered, which makes them the most threatened birds in our region. Landholders play a pivotal role in looking after threatened species habitat and we’re excited to be able to support them through this project,” said Mark.

In 2020 landholders submitted Expressions of Interest (EOI) for funding to undertake activities including fencing remnant bushland, planting trees and shrubs, thinning over-dense regeneration and tackling environmental weeds. Project officers assessed sites based on criteria including size, quality, habitat suitability and funding cost per hectare.

Site assessments were undertaken for each EOI, which were then evaluated by an expert panel and ranked for funding allocation. Twenty-eight successful landholders are protecting and managing more than 230 ha of remnant bushland and undertaking more than 120 ha of revegetation.

Markwood landholders Leonie and Peter Brien are among those grant recipients.

“We’re really grateful to be given the opportunity to be involved in a project that supports biodiversity in our region and protects habitat for the Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater, and all our indigenous fauna and flora,” Leonie said.

“Being involved in the Bush for Birds project has given us a new perspective and reignited our love for the property.”

Will said the Briens’ property was a perfect candidate for the project.

“Leonie and Peter have established a strong foundation of land stewardship over many years,” he said.

“Bush for Birds will support them to protect and manage a valuable patch of Grassy Woodland by removing woody weeds, planting native shrubs and managing dense Grey Box regeneration with ecological thinning.

“Getting involved in projects like Bush for Birds is a great way to learn more about the biodiversity values of your property and access support for practical conservation activities. I’m looking forward to working alongside landholders like Leonie and Peter to improve habitat for our most endangered birds.

Maisie Enders has dedicated much of her life to restoring the land. At 90 years old, she manages her 120 ha farm at Carboor by herself. Recently she received a hand from a Working for Victoria works crew to rebuild dilapidated fences.

Maisie and her husband Stan bought the property in 1953 and later practiced regenerative farming and holistic farm management. Maisie was also a wildlife carer, taking in hundreds of orphaned wombats, wallabies and possums. In 2004, the entire farm was placed under a conservation convenant, protecting this important habitat and sustainable farming system forever.

Lately though her cattle have been getting out through deteriorating fences. Thanks to the North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA), Trust for Nature has had access to Working for Victoria crews funded by the Victorian Government to support landholders with covenants throughout the catchment.

Working for Victoria (WFV) is a state government initiative responding to the COVID pandemic. It is designed to help jobseekers find work across Victoria and North East CMA has employed three teams working with organisations including Landcare, Trust for Nature and Parklands Albury Wodonga, as well as with private landholders.

A team of seven – Blake, Chris, Alex, Isaak, Bryce, Shannon and Fraser – have rebuilt fences on Maisie’s land to protect tree belts, re-hung a dozen gates to make them open smoothly, repaired old fencing and slashed under an electric fence so Maisie can turn it on safely.

Chris and Isaak, who have completed undergraduate degrees in environmental management and science, said the program helped them gain practical skills and certifications. Alex, who grew up on a local farm, said he enjoyed the opportunity to be out of the office.

The crew has been helping out other landholders in the region, including Diana Simpson, whose covenant is adjacent to Warby-Ovens National Park. The crew removed old fencing, giving wildlife unrestricted access to the park.

Trust for Nature and the North East Catchment Management Authority have announced the recipients of the first round of environmental grants through the Bush for Birds project.

The Bush for Birds project aims to protect, manage and increase habitat on private land for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot.

There are estimated to be fewer than 400 Regent Honeyeaters and 2,000 Swift Parrots left in the wild.

Landholders submitted expressions of interest (EOI) for funding for a range of activities including fencing remnant bushland, planting trees and shrubs, thinning dense regeneration and weed control.

Twenty-four landholders were successful in receiving funding, collectively they manage over 500 ha of remnant bushland and are undertaking more than 120 ha of revegetation.

Trust for Nature Regional Manager Will Ford said the project attracted a lot of attention which demonstrated the community’s interest in threatened species.

He said, “Ninety EOIs were submitted for this first round of funding, which goes to show how important these iconic species are to the local community.”

“Landholders have been really keen to get involved and contribute to threatened species conservation in a practical way.”

Waldara landholders Barbara McDonald and Judy Bonwick’s grant application was successful.

Barbara said, “We were thrilled to hear that our project got the go ahead. “We think it’s really important to strike a balance between farm productivity and conservation, and this project will help us to achieve that.”

Will said their farm project contributes greatly to protecting threatened species: “This property sits between the Ovens River and the Warby Range, so it’s a really important part of the landscape from a wildlife connectivity perspective.

“The proposal included fencing a good quality patch of native woodland, managing invasive weeds to promote natural regeneration, and linking up areas of bush with strategic paddock tree plantings.

“More than 60 per cent of Victoria is private land, so landholders have a critical role to play in providing habitat for threatened species.” “I’m looking forward to working with such committed landholders to achieve some really positive conservation outcomes,” Will said.