Biodiversity Conservation Trust NSW CEO Erin Giuliani highlighted the important role private landholders play in conservation when she addressed the NSW Farmers conference held in Sydney on 18-20 July 2023.
Ms Giuliani said there are many reasons why landholders choose to include conservation agreements on their property.
"Biodiversity Conservation Trust conservation agreements allow landholders to secure additional revenue streams to protect, restore and manage native vegetation and biodiversity on their land, often alongside or as part of their agricultural business," she said.
"We’ve heard that these payments are a valuable addition to the natural resource management activities already carried out by farmers and landholders.
"The average income from conservation agreements in the Central Tablelands, our research found, can make up to about 8 per cent of overall farm income when times are good, but can double, jumping up to 16 per cent of farm income during tougher times.”
She also highlighted the benefits conservation of biodiversity on private land can have on the economy of local communities.
"Local contractors who carry out vital works in a land management action plan, such as fencing, or weed management, often are employed from the surrounding community, bolstering local economies and building important local connections too," Ms Giuliani said.
The BCT currently supports more than 2000 landholders across NSW, in the management of more than 2.2 million hectares of land, containing some of the most threatened vegetation in the state and country. These landholders are protecting 127 threatened species, some not protected by national parks or reserves.