In the wake of Australia’s 2019-2020 bushfires, the protection of unburnt habitat has become an urgent priority.
Much of the land that survived the bushfires intact is now a vital refuge for biodiversity, particularly threatened species. Six priority landscapes have been identified in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria as requiring immediate protection because they will be the key to securing the future of many threatened species and ensuring important ecosystem services are sustained while impacted landscapes recover.
In collaboration with WWF-Australia, the Environmental Defenders Office is working to ensure that our laws are used to adequately protect these priority areas from further impacts, including impacts from inappropriate development, land clearing and forestry.
Some of these priority areas include habitats located on privately owned land which means that landholders are in a unique position to contribute meaningfully to bushfire recovery and the long-term protection of biodiversity through private land conservation.
There are various options available in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and nationally, for private land conservation. Our new guide for private landholders explains what private land conservation is, and outlines private land conservation options for landholders, including level of protection and support for Defending the Unburnt.
In the meantime, EDO can provide free initial legal advice to landholders who are considering entering a legally binding private conservation agreement – contact us here in the first instance. However, landholders who are seriously considering private land conservation should seek legal, tax and financial advice based on their individual circumstances.
