The revolving fund involves the BCT identifying properties up for sale that contain very high conservation values. The BCT buys these properties then ‘revolves’ them by selling to landholders interested and willing to sign an in-perpetuity conservation agreement on a portion of the land, to manage that area for biodiversity conservation outcomes.
The BCT has now bought and sold (or ‘revolved’) six properties where the new owners have entered conservation agreements covering 3,036 hectares.
The BCT has also bought and plans to revolve another seven properties with combined proposed conservation areas of 2,261 hectares.
Fernleigh is one of the properties revolved by the BCT.
Mal Coleman, Fernleigh’s new owner, agreed to purchase the property and enter a conservation agreement with the BCT. The agreement includes annual funding for managing Fernleigh for biodiversity conservation outcomes. Mr Coleman says he couldn’t be happier with his purchase.
“I’m a regenerative farmer so was interested in a property with good soil carbon and a healthy ecosystem,” said Mr Coleman.
“I couldn’t imagine anything better than a conservation agreement with annual funding that will improve my agricultural output while providing important habitat for native wildlife,” Mr Coleman said.
For more information about the BCT's revolving fund and to view available properties, visit our conservation properties page.