Trust for Nature

Trust for Nature
Founded 1972
Type not-for-profit
Focus Protection of native plants and wildlife in Victoria
Location
Website www.trustfornature.org.au

Trust for Nature is a not-for-profit organisation in the Australian state of Victoria which protects native plants and wildlife in cooperation with private landowners.[1] [2] The Trust was established under the Victorian Conservation Trust Act 1972 to enable people to contribute permanently to nature conservation by donating land or money.[3] Trust for Nature has since evolved into one of Victoria's primary private land conservation organisations.[4]

Trust for Nature developed conservation covenants in 1978 as a tool to protect native plants and wildlife on private land. Conservation covenants are backed by Victorian State legislation through the Victorian Conservation Trust Act 1972 and the Trust currently has more than 1,115 conservation covenants in effect which protects more than 47,000 hectares of private land.[5] The Trust has also purchased and preserved more than 55 properties across Victoria through its Revolving Fund, as well as currently owning and managing 46 properties that cover over 36,000 hectares of Victoria.[6]

Trust for Nature's vision

"Within two decades, protecting native plants and wildlife on private land will be recognised and valued as a central part of mainstream Australian environmental practice. There will be a shared expectation and responsibility among communities, landowners and governments that significant natural areas on privately owned land should be conserved, just as national and state parks are protected"[6]

Conservation tools

Trust for Nature has developed five key mechanisms to achieve conservation gains on private land:[7]

Conservation covenants

Private landowners protect quality native vegetation on their land by placing a covenant on the title, protecting the land in perpetuity.[8]

Stewardship program

Land management advice and information is provided to landowners who have covenanted their property.[9]

Revolving fund

The Trust purchases land of high vegetation quality and on-sells the property with a covenant attached. Proceeds from the sale go back into the Revolving Fund.[10]

Land acquisition

Trust for Nature acquires land of high conservation value and manages it with the help of volunteers. Trust-owned properties are often used for open days and education purposes, demonstrating land conservation practices.[11]

Eco-markets

The Trust organises native vegetation offset agreements between private landowners and proponents who have an offset requirement. Landowners receive a payment from the proponent to improve native vegetation quality on their land.[12]

Regions

Trust for Nature operates within Victoria's ten catchment management areas, often in partnership with the region's Catchment Management Authority (CMA).[13]

The 10 CMA regions covering Victoria are:

Partnerships

Corridor partners

Interstate land alliances

Trusts and foundations

Land acquisition

Trust properties donated to the Crown

Trust for Nature owns properties throughout Victoria which are managed by the Trust and cared for by Friends groups and local Committees of Management.[19] Throughout its history, the Trust has purchased parcels of land and subsequently transferred them to the Crown. Examples of significant transfers include:

Current Trust for Nature properties

Trust for Nature buys and maintains land of high conservation value to protect native plants and wildlife. Trust properties are managed using the best private land conservation techniques to help regenerate native vegetation and protect threatened species.[20]

Corangamite properties

East Gippsland properties

Glenelg Hopkins properties

Goulburn Broken properties

Mallee properties

North Central properties

North East properties

Port Phillip and Westernport properties

West Gippsland properties

Wimmera properties

References

  1. "New Members Sought for Trust for Nature". Pro Bono Australia. 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  2. "Behind Curtain of Fire, A Land Disfigured By Man and Drought | Circle of Blue WaterNews". Circleofblue.org. 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  3. Trust For Nature website.
  4. Trust for Nature. "Trust for Nature brochure" (PDF). Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  5. Trust for Naure. "Our Services - Trust for Nature". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  6. 1 2 Trust for Nature. "About Us - Trust for Nature". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  7. Trust for Nature. "Our Services - Trust for Nature". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  8. Trust for Nature. "Conservation covenants - Trust for Nature". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  9. Trust for Nature. "Stewardship program - Trust for Nature". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  10. Trust for Nature. "Revolving Fund - Trust for Nature". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  11. "properties". Trust For Nature. 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  12. "Our Services". Trust For Nature. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  13. Department of Sustainability and Environment. "Catchment Management Authorities". Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  14. "Habitat 141° | Ocean to Outback". Habitat141.org.au. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  15. "Queensland Trust for Nature". Qtfn.org.au. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  16. "Rural Real Estate, Rural Land for Sale – Nature Conservation Trust of NSW • Nature Conservation Trust of NSW". Nct.org.au. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  17. "Tasmanian Land Conservancy :: Home". Tasland.org.au. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  18. "Thomas Foundation". Thomas Foundation. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  19. Trust for Nature. "Trust for Nature properties". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  20. Trust for Nature. "Trust for Nature properties". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  21. "Mount Elephant". Mount Elephant. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  22. "The National Reserve System (NRS) - Bush Family Reserve". Environment.gov.au. 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  23. http://www.warrnambool.org/pallisters/
  24. http://www.warrnambool.org/bimbimbi/surveya3.html
  25. "Neds Corner Station - Home". Nedscorner.com.au. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  26. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities website, Neds Corner Station page.
  27. "Uambi | Heathmont Bushcare". Heathmontbushcare.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  28. "Bungalook Conservation Reserve - Maroondah City Council". Maroondah.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  29. "Baw Baw Shire Council - Uralla Nature Reserve Committee of Management". Bawbawshire.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  30. "Snape Reserve Dimboola". Home.vicnet.net.au. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
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