Big Scrub conservation tender - frequently asked questions

Below are example best practice lowland rainforest restoration schedules for two different lowland rainforest restoration approaches over a 5-year period: Tree Planting and Woody Weed Conversion.

These schedules are in line with chapters 6 to 8 of the Subtropical Rainforest Restoration Manual: A practical manual for Landcare groups, land managers and rainforest regenerators (Big Scrub Landcare – third edition) and other recent restoration efforts being undertaken in the region.

If an alternative approach is proposed, please include your proposed approach in your submission.

It is acknowledged that actual restoration requirements will depend on site conditions.

*Refer to Subtropical Rainforest Restoration, Manual - A practical manual for Landcare groups, land managers and rainforest regenerators (Big Scrub Landcare – third edition) for further details.

The BCT is seeking a restoration partner that shares alignment of values and goals, as outlined in the partnership criteria.

Both not-for-profit and for-profit  organisations are welcome to apply, and demonstrate the organisation’s vision, goals and objectives and how they align with the BCT's goals, principles and responsibilities.

The BCT supports hundreds of landholders, farmers and conservation organisations to protect, connect and restore biodiversity on private land. The BCT Business Plan outlines our purpose, vision, mission and strategic goals.

The BCT is seeking a restoration partner that will fund and deliver the restoration and initial maintenance component of the project.

BCT's contribution is based around establishing the conservation covenant and funding ongoing management. Specifically, BCT's contribution includes expertise (i.e. running the private landholder conservation tender, developing the conservation agreement (covenant)and establishing it on title, management plans, on-going reporting and ecological monitoring) and monetary funding that comes in the form of ongoing annual conservation management payments to landholders, paid in-perpetuity.

This partnership model is suited to entities with access to funds (e.g. corporate, philanthropic, etc) and expertise in restoration.

The BCT will make a direct financial investment to provide annual conservation management payments to landholders who participate in the program. The final investment budget will depend on the number of landholder properties which are successful through the Big Scrub Conservation Offer and the conservation management requirements of those properties.

The BCT will also provide substantial resources to support delivery of the Big Scrub Conservation Offer including partner engagement, program design and delivery, landholder and stakeholder engagement, covenant establishment, financial management, ongoing landholder support and ecological monitoring.

The proposed project model is:

• For restoration areas within the Conservation Area, restoration and maintenance (for five years) will be undertaken and funded by the project partner. After that time, the landholder will receive annual BCT management payments to continue to maintain and protect the restoration areas.
• For existing native vegetation within the Conservation Area that doesn't need restoration, the landholder will receive annual BCT management payments to maintain and protect these areas from year 1 of the agreement onwards.

Ultimately after the initial five-year restoration period, the landholder will receive ongoing funding from BCT to manage their entire conservation area in-perpetuity. This will be accompanied by landholder support and ecological monitoring.