Trust for Nature is working with landowners in East Gippsland to protect threatened species like the Southern Brown Bandicoot and the Long-nosed Potoroo from fox predation and to improve habitat through weed control and fencing.

Small mammals were once common across East Gippsland but are now rarely spotted due to predation by foxes and degradation of their habitat caused by clearing, pest plants and animals and uncontrolled stock access.

A new Trust initiative called Conservation Management of Private Land – Eastern Forests is helping landowners improve habitat through on ground works.

The Trust’s Area Manager for Gippsland Robyn Edwards said, “The focus of the project is on existing properties that have conservation covenants and the private land surrounding these sites or that are adjacent to public land, as well as properties that form links that create landscape connectivity.

“Financial assistance is available to assist landowners within the project area with fox and weed control and fencing.”

The project area is from east of Lakes Entrance through to Mallacoota.

Nearly three quarters of the main native plant communities identified in eastern Victoria are considered depleted, vulnerable, rare or endangered.

Conservation Management of Private Land – Eastern Forests aims to improve conservation outcomes for these communities across at least 4,000 ha of private land over the next three years.

Trust for Nature is a not-for-profit organisation that was founded in 1972 to protect native plants and wildlife for future generations of Victorians by conserving habitat on private land.

The Conservation Management of Private Land – Eastern Forests has been funded by the Victorian Government’s Biodiversity Response Planning program and is helping to ensure that Victoria’s natural environment is healthy, valued and actively cared for.

For more information about the project contact Trust for Nature’s Bairnsdale office on 0447 764 669, paulh@tfn.org.au.

Conservation Management of Private Lands – Eastern Forests project aims to protect small mammals like the Sugar Glider, pictured, from fox predation. Photo courtesy Peter Murrell.