Maree Thompson of McLeans Ridges today received a Private Land Conservation Grant for outstanding conservation efforts on her property.

“Part of Maree’s property is protected under a conservation agreement and this grant will help her realise her ideas and plans for continuing management of conservation on the property,” 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. This year more than $73,000 was awarded to 25 landholders with conservation agreements.

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. Maree will receive $2960 for weed control in endangered ecological community.”

"There's so much to do and weeds are blocking regeneration of native plants. I think the grant will make a huge difference and hopefully the neighbours will get involved as well. This is a great birthday present." said Maree

“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 Office of Environment and Heritage Conservation Partners Program Manager Dr Lynn Webber.

The conservation works at McLeans Ridges contribute to the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, a landscape scale corridor to protect endangered and threatened species through connectivity of ecosystems.

For a full list of grant recipients see www.fnpw.org.au.

The next funding round will open in early 2011.