What is a conservation covenant?

A conservation covenant (deed of covenant) is a voluntary, legal agreement made between a private landowner and Trust for Nature (“the Trust”). Its purpose is to permanently conserve and protect the natural, cultural or scientific values of the land. The Trust’s conservation covenants are entered into under the Victorian Conservation Trust Act 1972, registered on Title and are legally binding forever.

Why are conservation covenants important?

Native plants and wildlife need places to survive. Some of the most important habitat for our state’s threatened species is on private land – including woodlands, wetlands and grasslands. The opportunity for landowners to make a difference is underscored by the fact that almost two-thirds of Victorian land is in private hands. There is no greater gesture an individual can make to conservation of Victoria’s biodiversity than placing a Trust for Nature covenant on a property to protect habitat forever.