Private Land Conservation Matters (PLCM)

Private Land Conservation Matters (PLCM) project

– Suzanne Pritchard, LNSW Project Manager

The Private Land Conservation Matters (PLCM) project is ramping up with events planned and rolling out across the state in 12 Landcare regions. The Biodiversity Conservation Trust funded project is making possible 69 field days, eight networking events, 21 workshops, three forums, four trials and four online webinars.

The main themes being addressed across the project include sharing best practice biodiversity conservation in production areas, caring for Country, bush regeneration strategies, riparian restoration and habitat management for flora, fauna, endangered communities, and individual species.

These themes have translated into events such as the recently held 2-day Fire Focus Forum, hosted by Gywmac Landcare, Threatened Species Investigation in the McDonald Valley hosted by Greater Sydney Landcare, the jam-packed Creek Feast day organised by Watershed Landcare, celebrating all aspects of riparian restoration, and the Conservation & Primary Production Field day hosted by MidCoast2Tops at Dingo Creek where landholders shared their successful integration of an Angus Stud with riparian restoration.

The focus for many groups across the state in May is mycology. A Fungi Discovery workshop is being organised by South East Landcare, Soil Super heroes secrets will be shared by MidCoast2Tops and Mycology in the Mix is being presented by Central West Lachlan Landcare.

Keeping track of all the events and sharing the lessons learnt is being made possible by the recently activated PLCM Shared Resources portal, https://plcm.landcarensw.net.au/.

The events calendar is publicly available, and it is hoped that it will provide a useful resource for ideas and a vehicle for collating the event outcomes to support Landcarers looking to host events in their region to support all Landcarers, including those on private land.

Private Land Conservation Matters (PLCM)

Private land conservation really does matter!

– Suzanne Pritchard, LNSW Project Manager

Private land conservation really does matter and Landcarers across NSW are supporting those that are leading the way and encouraging other landholders to follow thanks to the $1.54 million Private Land Conservation Matters (PLCM) contract LNSW is delivering for the Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT).

What started out as a partnership between the BCT and LNSW to better understand the shared interests in managing land for biodiversity outcomes has developed into a mutually beneficially arrangement providing resources for 12 host organisations across the state to host 106 events by December 2024.

From multi-partner multi-day forums to online webinars, and every event type in between, how to manage private land to enhance biodiversity outcomes is being talked about by experts, shared in social networking gatherings, understood through citizen science projects and on land that has a one form or another of conservation covenant upon it.

It’s all about protection of Box Gum Grassy Woodlands (BGGW) in the Murray. Landholders will be able to learn about this endangered vegetation type while spotlighting and dining, considering natural capital options, understanding cultural connections or identifying tools and technology to tackle management decision. The BGGW supports productive agriculture based on native pastures, so it’s a win for landholders, native flora and fauna if this diverse ecosystem can be encouraged, expanded and connected across the landscape.

In the north of the state walk & talk field days on covenanted landholdings will see multiple agencies converging to share best practice land conservation techniques and knowledge in dealing with landslips and erosion, threatened species, and property planning. These gatherings are key to strengthening the social connections between landholders, who sometimes feel isolated, with like-minded Landcarers.

Out west big is better and forums are the flavour for bringing landholders together. The combination of large distances and limited time will see a multiday forum held in the western region and a 2-day event focussing on all aspects of utilising fire in the north western region. There will also be field days-a-plenty providing opportunities to get up close and personal with seed, showcasing some trials and demonstration and bringing multiple organisations together to explore and educate how to improve on-farm biodiversity.

The southeast will be utilising the PLCM funding to host roadshows across the region on riparian strategies and bush regeneration techniques. Regional workshops and field days are also planned to cover topics as diverse as koalas, regenerative agriculture, keystone species, fungi and flora, preceded by information sharing webinars so that the theory can be put into on the day. A muster to bring everyone together is in the mix too.

Along the east coast learning opportunities to better understand private land management of feral animals, woody weeds, caring for country, ecological burns for biodiversity, koalas, and fungi will see workshops and field days held. A growing interest in understanding bush regeneration strategies will provide food for thought about the value of retaining and expanding remnant vegetation.

If you’d like to find out more about what’s happening in your region contact your local landcare group, or BCT representative. All regions across the state have something to offer.

Private land conservation, by providing opportunities for landholders and Landcarers to connect and support each other, will greatly contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30×30 targets calling for 30% of land under protection by 2030.

The Private Land Conservation Matters program is key to unlocking the potential of landholders to protect biodiversity across the state. LNSW acknowledges the foresight and support of the BCT in resourcing Landcarers to deliver an extensive program of activities for landholders to conserve biodiversity on their property.

March 2024

Private Land Conservation: How one farming family helped support a flourishing natural environment and a sustainable and profitable farm.

To leave a lasting legacy, you have to first envisage what kind of legacy you want to remain. For Bronwen Newman and Andrew Naylor of ‘Mt Belubula’ in the NSW Central Tablelands, it was one of a flourishing natural environment, that worked alongside a sustainable and profitable farm for future generations to enjoy.

With an in-perpetuity agreement for 105ha with the Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT), Bronwen says the thriving flora and fauna in their exclusion areas is a testament to how co-existence can occur.

“We are planning for the future. We feel it is our responsibility to leave the land in better shape or certainly enhance it for future generations. With this in mind, we decided that our conservation work should go with the farm, whoever runs it, and an in-perpetuity agreement ensures this and helps the next landholder financially.

“When we entered an agreement, we had land that wouldn’t sustain high stocking rates but was part of an endangered ecological community and supported many threatened species. So, we put in a tender and the BCT staff came and worked with us and thus began the process.

“We need to all be a part of this process to improve and protect our environment and Landcare can help every step of the way. We hope future generations will gain a stronger understanding and protect our natural assets.

“Our conservation efforts have helped with the regeneration of native plants which then encourages native wildlife and creates sustainable agriculture. But also, simply, it’s really lovely to go out and see what species of flora and fauna are coming back since we began the exclusion area and these incredible seasons,” said Bronwen.

Bronwen and Andrew’s farm contains the critically endangered grassy box woodland and provides habitat for a range of threatened species such as the superb parrot and Glossy Black-Cockatoo.

“We’ve been involved with Mid Lachlan Landcare for many years and our Local Landcare Coordinator Tracee Burke is just fantastic. She put us in contact with the BCT so the collaboration between the two organisations is fantastic as it builds on all the work we do.

“Landcare offered us support in helping achieve protection of land areas which had been degraded by misuse over a long period of time. Our involvement in local Landcare has provided us with a variety of options and grants to help farmers such as ourselves with different projects which enhance our ecology and help us become more sustainable.

“Our work with Landcare and BCT is both supportive and encouraging in helping us achieve our goals of future sustainable farming.”

To find out more about the Biodiversity Conservation Trust click here or to find out about the partnership project, Partnering in Private Land Conservation, between BCT, Landcare NSW and the NSW Landcare network click here.