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Project

Protecting Victoria’s most threatened ecosystems | Australian Bushland Program

Some of Australia’s most threatened wildlife and plants have a brighter future thanks to a new project that will protect their habitat by working collaboratively with Victorian landholders.

Private land conservation is a powerful strategy for caring for nature. Across Victoria, thousands of landholders are already making an incredible contribution by protecting, managing and restoring habitat on their properties.  

In partnership with the Victorian Government and supported by Catchment Management Authorities, Trust for Nature will permanently protect 4,000 hectares (ha) of habitat on private land by 2030, contributing to the global goal to protect 30% of land for conservation by 2030.   

Over the next four years, Trust for Nature will work with landholders to protect 4,000 ha of habitat forever. This $13 million project is funded through the Australian Government’s $250 million Australian Bushland Program. 

Critical habitat  

Based on Australian and Victorian bioregions, Trust for Nature has identified three critical areas where private land conservation can increase the representation of critical habitat in protected areas and have the greatest impact for threatened species and ecosystems.  These areas are:

  • Naracoorte Coastal Plain
  • Southern Volcanic Plain
  • Riverina

See further details about each bioregion below.

Habitat in these areas will be permanently protected under conservation covenants, an agreement with landholders to protect and manage habitat that is registered on the property title.

Register your interest in protecting habitat on your property through our covenant expression of interest form. 

Register your interest

Extending from western Victoria into South Australia, the Naracoorte Coastal Plain encompasses woodlands and heathlands that have been extensively cleared for agriculture. Threatened species that we are aiming to protect include the South-east Red-tailed Black-cockatoo, Eastern Bristlebird, Southern Brown Bandicoot and Heath Mouse. 

With less than 3% protected and extensively cleared for agriculture, the Southern Volcanic Plain encompasses woodlands and grasslands west of Melbourne. Threatened species that we are aiming to protect include Latham’s Snipe, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Blue-winged Parrot, Yellow-bellied Glider, Corangamite Water Skink, Striped Legless Lizard, Golden Sun Moth and Clover Glycine. 

North of the Great Dividing Range, the Riverina encompasses grasslands, woodlands and swamps and extends into New South Wales. Threatened species we are aiming to protect include the Plains-wanderer, Superb Parrot, Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail and Sloane’s Froglet. 

Extending from western Victoria into South Australia, the Naracoorte Coastal Plain encompasses woodlands and heathlands that have been extensively cleared for agriculture. Threatened species that we are aiming to protect include the South-east Red-tailed Black-cockatoo, Eastern Bristlebird, Southern Brown Bandicoot and Heath Mouse. 

With less than 3% protected and extensively cleared for agriculture, the Southern Volcanic Plain encompasses woodlands and grasslands west of Melbourne. Threatened species that we are aiming to protect include Latham’s Snipe, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Blue-winged Parrot, Yellow-bellied Glider, Corangamite Water Skink, Striped Legless Lizard, Golden Sun Moth and Clover Glycine. 

North of the Great Dividing Range, the Riverina encompasses grasslands, woodlands and swamps and extends into New South Wales. Threatened species we are aiming to protect include the Plains-wanderer, Superb Parrot, Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail and Sloane’s Froglet. 

Register your interest through our website: Become a Covenantor 

A conservation covenant is a voluntary legal agreement made between a private landholder and Trust for Nature to permanently protect and conserve private land with natural, cultural or scientific values. Read more on our website: Conservation Covenants 

No. The funding covers the cost of a Conservation Covenant (usually valued at $40,000) meaning that landholders can participate and protect their land forever, at no cost to them. 

The project has a target of 4,000 hectares of protection, so the number of participates will depend on the size of the properties. However, we have estimated that it will provide up to 100 landholders the opportunity to participate. 

The project is for four years, however the benefits will last forever. Participating landholders will have their property permanently protected, and will receive support and guidance from Trust for Nature in perpetuity.