Private Land Conservation Grants Announced

Twenty-one voluntary conservation agreement holders today received Private Land Conservation Grants for outstanding conservation efforts on their properties.

"Part of the properties are protected under voluntary conservation agreements and these grants will help landowners realise their ideas and plans for conservation on their properties," said Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife CEO Ms Leonie Gale.

Private Land Conservation Grants support owners of covenanted properties to conduct habitat or species conservation projects on their property.

Paddy Pallin Foundation Trustee, Mr Robert Pallin said "the program acknowledges people who do conservation on their own land and supports them in their long term commitment to conservation."

"Private conservation is extremely important because most land in Australia is privately owned, and protecting Australia's native animals in their natural habitat is of great benefit to future generations," said the Wildlife Land Trust's Michael Kennedy.

We are working in partnership with the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, the Paddy Pallin Foundation, the Wildlife Land Trust, the Diversicon Environmental Foundation and the Nature Conservation Trust of NSW to offer the grants as an effective way of working with the community to care for Australia's natural and cultural heritage," said the Department of Environment and Climate Change Conservation Partners Program Manager Dr Lynn Webber.

The Private Land Conservation Grant is part of the Foundation's Small Grants Program which also supports scientific research and community groups.

The next funding round will open in May 2010.

For information on how you can protect your land for conservation go to the Conservation Partners website.

2009 Grant Recipients - Private Land Conservation Grants

• Ken Rubeli of 'Mundhuk Wildlife Refuge' in Dungog
  To remove native grape vine to allow regeneration of rainforest.

• Christian Alexander and Dorothea Holtmann of "Omaru" in Niangala
  To remove riverbank weed for the endangered Booroolong frog and installation of nest boxes for threatened Yellow-bellied Gliders and Masked and Powerful Owls.

• John and Lois Prior of "Cedar Ridge" in Condong
  To control weeds in high conservation value rainforest.

• Derek Skingle of " Sandy Pinch" in Goolmangar
  To control lantana for the threatened "Thorny Pea" Desmodium acanthocladum.

• Esme Wood of Galston
  To install a silt fence and control weeds along a rocky creek bed to prevent spread to endangered Turpentine-Iron Bark forest.

• Croome Reserve, Shellharbour City Council
  To remove weeds to protect the endangered Illawarra Greenhood Orchid Pterostylis gibbosa and Chorizema parvifolia.

• James and Patria Cameron of "Yallaroo" in Tooraweenah
  To thin regenerating Callitris pine to protect Phebalium nottii.

• Rod and Alexandra Tuson of "Kennedy Park" in Mount David
  To control weeds for the threatened Purple Copper Butterfly Paralucia spinifera.

• National Parks Association of NSW for "Wheeler Creek" in Beacons Hill
  To control weeds along a cliff line for the threatened Powerful Owls, Heath Monitors and Red Crowned Toadlets.

• Vicki Powys of "Rocklands" in Capertee Valley
  To control weeds to protect Box Gum Woodland and associated fauna.

• Vivian Heriot of "Warrawee" in Wyndham
  To install nest boxes for the threatened Barking Owl, Yellow-bellied Glider and the Large-footed Mouse-eared Bat.

• Arnold and Mary Vayo of "Vineyard Haven" in New Italy
  To produce tree identification signs educating visitors about the enhanced growth of flora and the protection of fauna.

• Ken Rippin and Maria Barbieri of Uki
  To control weeds in high conservation value rainforest

• Lawrence Ernst of "Calmhaven" in Woodburn
  To restore habitat for the threatened Glossy Black Cockatoo, Bush Hen and Barking Owl.

• Garth Dixon of "Oooyella" in Ainslie
  To control serrated tussock grass in threatened Powerful Owl and Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo.

• Ray and Susan Pitstock of Mangrove Mountain
  To control whisky grass and lantana for the threatened Spreading Guinea Flower Hibbertia procumbens and Tetratheca glandulosa.

• "Ben Ricketts Environmental Preserve" in Jamberoo
  To control weeds in high conservation Tree Fern Swamp and produce plant identifier markers and pamphlets for an educational walk.

• Wayne Stokes and Marcia Macartney of "Marway Conservation Area" in Tumbarumba
  To control weeds and manage pests for the threatened Powerful Owl and Gang Gang Cockatoo.

• John Eggert of Beechwood
  To control weeds in high conservation value forest for the threatened Turquoise Parrot, Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, Masked Owl, Sooty Owl, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Eastern False Pipistrelle, Common Bent-wing Bat, Brush-tailed Phascogale, Koala, Grey-headed Flying Fox, Yellow-bellied Sheath-tail Bat and the Greater Broad-nosed Bat.

• Victoria Black of "Bundari, Mt Evernden" in Rockley Mountain
  To spray serrated tussock grass in habitat containing threatened Silver-leafed Mountain Gums and Koalas.

• Donald Edwards of "Treehaven" in Uki
  To control weeds in lowland subtropical rainforest and adjacent Koala habitat.