The
Bush Returns program encourages large-scale regeneration of native vegetation
on private land in the Goulburn Broken Catchment by offering ongoing management
payments to participating landholders.
Funding
to landholders is set by a conservation auction and restoration benefits index
to identify value for money proposals.
Landholders
reveal how much money they need to carry out appropriate management and these
‘tenders or bids’ are compared against the conservation significance and
regeneration potential of their site and the level of commitment they are
offering.
Sites
and management agreements are registered on the property title for 10 years,
with some linked to a Trust for Nature covenant in perpetuity.
Biodiversity
Projects Co-ordinator with the Goulburn Broken CMA, Carla Miles, said large
scale re-establishment of native vegetation is needed to address biodiversity
decline, dryland salinity and general catchment health.
“Encouraging
natural regeneration of native vegetation is considered to be an ecologically
sound and cost-effective way of addressing these issues,’’ she said.
The
trial program has had two funding rounds over 2004-2005 and lessons learnt will
be integrated into the future delivery of incentives across the Goulburn Broken
Catchment. The program is funded through the National Action Plan for Salinity
and Water Quality.
The
first round of Bush Returns was implemented in the Violet Town
area and saw 168 ha secured under the program with four successful landholders.
The
second round was implemented over the entire Goulburn Broken Catchment and
contracts are currently being offered to the 17 successful landholders, whose
sites collectively cover 517 ha.
“Preliminary
results from the program, which has essentially trialled a new approach to
providing incentives to private landholders to conserve and restore landscapes,
show that the average cost of securing and managing these areas is about
$100/ha/year, however this varies for each site.’’
“The
approaches trilled in Bush Returns will add another dimension to the mix of
incentives currently offered in the GB Catchment, and will help to address the
large-scale, landscape change that is required to meet catchment targets.’’
Release ends
For
more information contact:
Carla
Miles
Biodiversity
Projects Coordinator
GBCMA,
Yea. (03) 57972001.
carlam@gbcma.vic.gov.au