Conservation Covenants
Today, 1800+ conservation covenants collectively protect 122,000+ hectares across Victoria – and the community of people willing to take this step to protect their land forever continues to grow every year.
By placing permanent protection on private land, individuals, families or organisations can help contribute to local and global efforts to protect and restore biodiversity and fight climate change.
With 62% of Victoria’s land privately owned, permanently protecting private land is critical to secure the future of our unique ecosystems and species.
By placing permanent protection on private land, individuals, families or organisations can help contribute to local and global efforts to protect and restore biodiversity and fight climate change.
With 62% of Victoria’s land privately owned, permanently protecting private land is critical to secure the future of our unique ecosystems and species.
LaND FOR WILDLIFE
Land for Wildlife is a voluntary wildlife conservation program which acknowledges and recognises private landowners who are managing and or restoring habitat for wildlife on their property.
Approximately 5,000 properties (comprising 536,000 ha of private land) are currently registered across the state.
The Land for Wildlife Program has been delivered in other States and Territories of Australia and New Zealand since 1990.
In late 2025, the Victorian Government announced the historic transfer of Land for Wildlife to Trust for Nature.
Approximately 5,000 properties (comprising 536,000 ha of private land) are currently registered across the state.
The Land for Wildlife Program has been delivered in other States and Territories of Australia and New Zealand since 1990.
In late 2025, the Victorian Government announced the historic transfer of Land for Wildlife to Trust for Nature.
CONSERVATION RESERVES
Trust for Nature is currently custodian of more than 40 conservation reserves across Victoria.
We’ve acquired these properties thanks to the generosity of our supporters who recognised the importance of conserving native flora and fauna.
Some of our reserves are maintained through the generosity, hard work and invaluable local knowledge of volunteer Committees of Management, who meet regularly to conduct on-ground works and hold community events.
We’ve acquired these properties thanks to the generosity of our supporters who recognised the importance of conserving native flora and fauna.
Some of our reserves are maintained through the generosity, hard work and invaluable local knowledge of volunteer Committees of Management, who meet regularly to conduct on-ground works and hold community events.
What Trust for Nature brings to councils
Permanent protection on private land
Trust for Nature is the only organisation in Victoria with legislated powers to place conservation covenants on private land. This provides councils with confidence that biodiversity outcomes are secure, enduring, and aligned with long‑term planning horizons.
These protections support:
– Remnant vegetation and habitat conservation
– Landscape connectivity and habitat corridors
– Climate resilience through intact ecosystems
Strong alignment with council strategies and state policy
Trust for Nature’s work directly supports many council objectives, including:
– Biodiversity and Natural Environment strategies
– Climate adaptation and resilience plans
– Green space and liveability goals
– Integrated land‑use and landscape planning
All activity aligns with the goals and reform directions of Biodiversity 2037.
What partnership can look like
Collaboration with Trust for Nature may include:
– Cross‑promotion of relevant conservation initiatives, events or stories
– Co‑hosted or supported events for landholders and communities
– Project or pilot partnerships aligned to priority landscapes or themes
– Storytelling and outcome sharing to support reporting, strategies and community engagement
There is no one‑size‑fits‑all model, partnerships are shaped by local context.
Trust for Nature is the only organisation in Victoria with legislated powers to place conservation covenants on private land. This provides councils with confidence that biodiversity outcomes are secure, enduring, and aligned with long‑term planning horizons.
These protections support:
– Remnant vegetation and habitat conservation
– Landscape connectivity and habitat corridors
– Climate resilience through intact ecosystems
Strong alignment with council strategies and state policy
Trust for Nature’s work directly supports many council objectives, including:
– Biodiversity and Natural Environment strategies
– Climate adaptation and resilience plans
– Green space and liveability goals
– Integrated land‑use and landscape planning
All activity aligns with the goals and reform directions of Biodiversity 2037.
What partnership can look like
Collaboration with Trust for Nature may include:
– Cross‑promotion of relevant conservation initiatives, events or stories
– Co‑hosted or supported events for landholders and communities
– Project or pilot partnerships aligned to priority landscapes or themes
– Storytelling and outcome sharing to support reporting, strategies and community engagement
There is no one‑size‑fits‑all model, partnerships are shaped by local context.
Rate Rebates
Native habitat on private land in Victoria continues to be lost but the extinction trend can be reversed by protecting key remnants, building ecosystem resilience and increasing connectivity of habitat. The protection offered by conservation covenants make a vital contribution to this process and rates concessions or exemptions are recognition of this contribution by generous landowners.
We’d like to acknowledge and thank the many regional and rural councils across Victoria who offer rate rebates or concessions to conservation covenantors. Your support plays a meaningful role in recognising the commitment landowners make to protecting native habitat on private land.
These initiatives can make a real difference, helping landholders continue the important work of caring for and restoring their land. At a time when native habitat continues to be under pressure, this kind of support helps enable long‑term protection, strengthens ecosystem resilience, and improves habitat connectivity.
Conservation covenants play a vital role in safeguarding Victoria’s biodiversity, and your recognition of this, through rate concessions, is an important contribution to that shared effort.
Native habitat on private land in Victoria continues to be lost but the extinction trend can be reversed by protecting key remnants, building ecosystem resilience and increasing connectivity of habitat. The protection offered by conservation covenants make a vital contribution to this process and rates concessions or exemptions are recognition of this contribution by generous landowners.
We’d like to acknowledge and thank the many regional and rural councils across Victoria who offer rate rebates or concessions to conservation covenantors. Your support plays a meaningful role in recognising the commitment landowners make to protecting native habitat on private land.
These initiatives can make a real difference, helping landholders continue the important work of caring for and restoring their land. At a time when native habitat continues to be under pressure, this kind of support helps enable long‑term protection, strengthens ecosystem resilience, and improves habitat connectivity.
Conservation covenants play a vital role in safeguarding Victoria’s biodiversity, and your recognition of this, through rate concessions, is an important contribution to that shared effort.
Thank you for the important role you play in supporting nature across your region.
We’ve included a range of local stories, covenantor profiles and updates below to give you a closer look at conservation in action.
If anything catches your eye, or you’d like to learn more, we invite you to touch base at communications@tfn.org.au, we’d love to hear from you.
We’ve included a range of local stories, covenantor profiles and updates below to give you a closer look at conservation in action.
If anything catches your eye, or you’d like to learn more, we invite you to touch base at communications@tfn.org.au, we’d love to hear from you.
