Can you believe it — we’re 50 years old!

In 1972 the modern environmental movement was young. In Victoria, the most cleared state in Australia, the time was ripe for a group of people to come together to protect our precious patches of remaining habitat. What was then known as the Victorian Conservation Trust was born.

Fast forward 50 years (and a name change!), we’ve gone from strength to strength, protecting over 110,000 hectares across more than 1,500 conservation covenants and more than 40 reserves.

This special 50th anniversary issue of the Conservation Bulletin is a celebration of those achievements, and an opportunity to pause and consider the past, present and future of Trust for Nature.

Inside you’ll find stories of our beginnings and our journey. We take a look at the work we’re doing to protect threatened species, address climate change and work more closely with Aboriginal Victorians.

It’s also a tribute to the people who have made Trust for Nature — Vic Marles who is stepping down from the role of CEO after 13 years of leading and transforming the Trust — as well as colleagues, volunteers, donors, partners, supporters and, of course, the landholders who have volunteered to protect habitat forever.

Thank you — here’s to the next 50 years.

Pictured background: A covenanted property on Phillip Island. Image: Annette Ruzicka. Pictured left: The Tucker family are among the thousands of Victorians who have committed to protecting habitat on their land.

Welcome to issue #75. In this edition of the Conservation Bulletin we bring you more inspiring conservation stories from Victoria and beyond.

You’ll read about landholders like Fiona Murdoch and her family, who have protected 490 ha of their property Raakajlim in the Mallee, home to endangered Pink Cockatoos and rare butterflies.

Elsewhere you’ll read about how we’re working with Traditional Owners to look after two of our reserves; an exciting Golden Sun Moth discovery; and how grazing is helping critically endangered Plains-wanderers.

Plus: our new Statewide Conservation Plan; the curious story of the critically endangered Gorae Leek Orchid, and all you need to know about nest boxes. All that and more in the latest Conservation Bulletin, which you can read by clicking on the link below.

Pictured top: Pink Cockatoos. Left: Fiona Murdoch and her family on their Mallee property Raakajlim. Images: Fiona Murdoch.

Welcome to issue #74. In this edition of the Conservation Bulletin we bring you more inspiring conservation stories from Victoria and beyond.

In this issue you’ll read about landholders like Kylie and Andrew Taylor, who are protecting their 61 ha Gariwerd/Grampians property forever through Trust for Nature. They’re among the landholders who have protected another 1,800 ha of habitat for wildlife over the past year.

Elsewhere you’ll read about Ngarrindjeri boxer Marisa Williamson, 90-year-old farmer Maisie Enders, and baker Tom O’Toole – all people doing their bit to protect Victoria’s wildlife and special environment.

Plus: what the US is doing to protect private land, a new bat species discovered in Victoria, and meet the tiny, endangered Brown Toadlet. All that and more in the latest Conservation Bulletin, which you can read by clicking on the link below.

Welcome to issue #73. In this edition of the Conservation Bulletin we are delighted to bring your stories of resilience and hope.

In this issue you can read about the incredible dedication of landholders like Eleanor and Albert Wright – whose property is one of 30 new conservation covenants we added in 2019-20, protecting over 1,700 hectares of vital habitat forever. It’s also their fourth covenant!

Elsewhere you’ll read about efforts to conserve endangered grassland in northern Victoria, and a collaboration with Traditional Owners in the Wimmera to perform a cultural burn. We’ve got more updates for you on our work assisting landholders with bushfire recovery.

Plus: how to look after your conservation property if you don’t live there, and how protecting private land has its place in the puzzle of helping wildlife and plants adapt to climate change. All that and more in the latest Conservation Bulletin, which you can read by clicking on the link below.

Inside the 69^th issue you will meet one of our largest covenantors who has established about 40 covenants on properties and wants to buy thousands more hectares for conservation. Deer have been a significant issue for many landowners across Victoria and in this issue we talk about how a couple in East Gippsland has successfully protected rare Yellow-wood on their property and what deer management options you have.

Trust for Nature has celebrated wins in orchid conservation after helping to create the world’s first self-sustaining population of an endangered orchid species through a reintroduction program and be inspired by a story about a young family whose efforts have seen an amazing transformation take place on their property—which is home to significant ephemeral pools, aquatic plants, and cultural heritage.

Plus lots of news and land management tips inside.