A conservation covenant is a voluntary, permanent, legally-binding agreement placed on a property’s title to ensure native vegetation is protected forever. When you put agree to put a covenant on your land, it restricts certain activities that might damage native habitat, including land clearing, planting non-native plants, grazing and collecting wood.
That's how covenants are helping to safeguard Victoria's threatened species such as Plains-wanderers, Helmeted Honeyeaters and Squirrel Gliders. The covenant remains in place even if you sell the property, protecting habitat on the land literally forever.
Every covenant adds to the area of habitat protected for Victoria's wildlife. It's a bit like creating new national parks—except on private land.
Since 1972, we've worked with landholders to register more than 1,567 conservation covenants since 1972—protecting 72, 905 ha of habitat for wildlife.
Landholders with covenants are making a commitment to manage their property to make sure it provides excellent habitat. They continue to own the land and be responsible for its management.
Trust for Nature works with landholders to provide ongoing support through our Stewardship Program.
We’ll work with you to develop a specific management plan for your property that will help you decide what you need to do to maintain or improve it for wildlife.
This might include weeding, fencing or controlling introduced animals such as rabbits, deer or foxes.
Putting a conservation covenant on your land is free—Trust for Nature covers the costs of the covenant. You can help support this work by making a donation. Where available, we also let landholders know about financial assistance they might be eligible for. For instance, some local councils provide rate discounts on covenanted properties.
If you’d like to speak to someone about putting a covenant on your land, speak to one of our staff members in your region.
You can also contact Trust for Nature’s Melbourne office on (03) 8631 5888 or trustfornature@tfn.org.au or send us a message through the form below.
