25/11/2005
- Hobart farmers from Barilla Bay today became the 100th
Tasmanians to sign a voluntary covenant to conserve plants
and animals on their land for future generations.
At a joint ceremony hosted by the Australian and Tasmanian
Governments, local farmers Tony and Bronwen Byrne agreed
to protect 36 hectares of mudflats and saltmarsh which
provide important habitat for local and migratory shorebirds.
To encourage more Tasmanians to conserve flora and fauna
on their own land, the Australian and Tasmanian Governments
announced additional funding of $637,000.
The Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, said the partnership with private
landholders was already paying dividends in conserving
Tasmania’s unique environment.
“This partnership with private landholders is vital. Many
of our rare plants and animals are found only on private
land - especially in coastal areas, the Midlands and Eastern
Tasmania,” Senator Campbell said.
“It’s fantastic that 100 Tasmanians have now protected
3500 hectares of their own land by signing up to voluntary
covenants. This additional funding will help more landowners
to manage their properties to ensure the survival of important
habitats for threatened species.”
The voluntary conservation agreements are registered on
the Land Title and carry through to any new owners of
the land to ensure its ongoing protection. In return,
landowners are supported in managing weeds, grazing, fire,
water quality and threatened species.
The Tasmanian Minister for Environment and Planning, Judy
Jackson, said Tony and Bronwyn Byrne were setting an example
in best practice sustainable farm management.
“Protecting habitat does not need to affect landowners’
ability to earn an income from their properties. Tony
and Bronwyn will still run their successful oyster growing
and farming business,” Mrs Jackson said.
“They’ll be protecting the important natural areas while
continuing to farm the productive areas of their land.
“Under these voluntary agreements, saltmarsh, grasslands,
wetlands, sand dune vegetation, healthlands and forest
have been protected across Tasmania, including habitat
for the Swift Parrot, Giant Freshwater Crayfish and New
Holland Mouse,” Mrs Jackson said.
Tasmanian Senator Guy Barnett represented Senator Campbell
at a ceremony today and presented Tony and Bronwen Byrne
and eight other landowners with certificates of appreciation
from the Prime Minister.
The voluntary conservation agreements are administered
under Tasmania’s Protected Areas on Private Land Programme,
a partnership between the Australian and Tasmanian Governments,
the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association and the
Tasmanian Land Conservancy.
Since 1997, the Australian Government has provided more
than $1.4 million for Tasmania’s voluntary conservation
agreements through the National Heritage Trust. The private
land programme is helping build Australia’s National Reserve
System, a network of exceptional parcels of land which
preserve for the future examples of all aspects of Australia’s
unique environment.
A breakdown of contributions for Protected Areas on Private
Land Programme is below. |