Rod and Alexandra Tuson of Mt David today received a Private Land Conservation Grant for outstanding conservation efforts on their property "Kennedy Park".

“Part of Rod and Alexandra’s property is protected under a conservation agreement and this grant will help them realise their 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 orspecies conservation projects on their property. This year more than $73,000 was awarded to 25landholders with conservation agreements.

Paddy Pallin Foundation Trustee, Mr Robert Pallin said “The program acknowledges people who doconservation on their own land and supports them in their long term commitment to conservation. Rod and Alexandra will receive $3000 for blackberry control in endangered species habitat.”

"We are deeply concerned for the environment and community and these grants help us better manage our property for conservation." said Mr Tuson.

“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 PallinFoundation, 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, ClimateChange and Water Conservation Partners Program Manager Dr Lynn Webber.

The conservation works at Mt David contributes to the Great Eastern Ranges, a landscape scalecorridor 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.