Nature covenants in safe hands

Protection covenant son private land should remain secure under statewide planning changes, says

MOREthan600 landholders acrossTasmania, fromdiverse backgrounds, communities and properties, are making the ultimate commitment to protect nature on their land by entering into a conservation covenant. In doing so, they are con serving habitat for our rare and threatened species, managing threats and contributing to the protection of the landscapes we all value. Covenants are part of the Australian National Reserve System, a network of public, Indigenous and privately protected areas overland and inlandfreshwater. Covenants are the primary mechanism to secure conservation on private land in perpetuity. With two-thirds of Australia’ s land in private ownership or management, private land holders play a critical role in con serving our heritage, as well as managing threats to these values. You might think national parks and public reserves are the main ways we look after landscape sand wildlife in Tasmania, but conservation covenant son private land are an incredibly important component of conservation efforts. Next time you’ re driving up the East Coast, pause for a moment as you pass Devils Corner on Cherry Tree Hill. Look out at the beautiful, protected landscapes of Moulting Lagoon, Hazards and Frey ci net National Park, then look back over your shoulderaswell–fromhere you can see 15 privately protected areas scattered through the landscape. These are owned by a range of people with a shared purpose, con serving one of Tasmania’ s mosticonicplaces. Currently, Tasmania has 900 covenants protecting 110,000 ha of private reserves. These owners are ordinary Tasmanians, often with small blocks. Most covenants are less than 100 ha with many under 20 ha. But they have committed to protecting nature on their land in perpetuity. Their contribution tonature conservation, ecosystem services, andthe community really matters. Andthey shouldbe celebrated. A conservation covenant is a legally binding agreement under the Tasmanian Nature ConservationAct(2002). Property-specific covenants are registered on the land title in perpetuity, which means natural values are protected and managed for generations to come. A conservation covenant is the highest form of protection for private land. These areas makeup a significant component of the National Reserve System, are reported to the federal government and contribute to international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, which Australia is signatory to. The Australian government notes that“based on a scientific framework ,[ the National Reserve System] is the nation’ s natural safety net against our biggest environmental challenges ”. Tasmanians all benefit from an environment in good condition. A healthy landscape gives us clean water, fresh air, productive soil, pollination and climate resilience. The first Tasmanian covenant was registered in 1999, through a partnership between the Tasmanian Farmers and Gr aziers Association, Tasmania’ s environment department and Bush Heritage, a powerful partnership. Tasmania’ s Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment ad ministers conservation covenants, while the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) helps covenant-holders, making site visits and providing information and land management advice. Owners are also invited to join Conservation Land holders Tasmania, a network with a commitment to protect and enhance natural values. The group hosts field days where members learn from each other and connect with the widercommunity. In recent months, we have been approached by some covenant holders concerned that changes to planning provisions under the new statewide planning scheme will under mine the permanent protection of their land. Covenants are established independent of the planning system, and protections remain in effect regardless of zoning of the land. Although no covenant( or some other reserve classifications) can guarantee exemption from mining interests, covenants exclude extractive timber harvesting and other inappropriate activities. Under the Nature Conservation Act 2002, conservation covenants are legal agreements between binding parties( land holder and minister) registered on land title. Therefore, requirements and protections of the covenant remain in place regardless of zoning under the planning scheme and are independent of the regulatory planning scheme. As a conservation land holder our self, with many covenants across our estate, the TLC is encouraging local government to ensure local provision schedules reflect the land use potential of covenanted land and to ensure all covenant holders understand that their land is protected in perpetuity. Conservation covenants are animportantmechanismin theconservationtoolkitand usedbygovernmentatall levels (federal, state and local). Covenantsremainthe mainstayoftheTLC’sreserves andourhighlysuccessful RevolvingFundprogram.The Australian Land Conservation Alliance, made up of national and state-based organisations like the TLC, is working to ensure the role of private landholders and mechanisms such as conservation covenants are supported and

encouraged into the future. Just last year the Queensland government announced a new form of privately protected area, Special Wildlife Reserves. This reserve class provides a national park level of protection to private land that contains exceptional natural or cultural values and managed in away that focuses on con serving those values. Maintaining a secure network of private protected areas is critical to building healthy and resilient landscapes for future generation sand for nature itself. I have had the privilege to work with a range of land holders over the years and their connection to their properties and commitment to their patch is unquestionable and inspiring. They should be congratulated and celebrated for con serving the places and species that make Tasmania unique. James Hat tam is the chief executive of the Tasmanian LandConservancy.