Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has urged local landholders to think about working the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) on a Biodiversity Management Program.
“The BCT will shortly be seeking EOIs from landholders whose properties are located within areas of the Cootamundra electorate,” Ms Cooke said.
“What we’re looking for is properties which may have important native plants and animals located on parts of them.”
The BCT’s conservation management program offers a ground-breaking approach to conserving biodiversity, where landholders can set their own bid price and voluntarily compete in a tender to win a funded conservation agreement on a value for money basis.
Landholders will be supported by the BCT to submit costed management plans. If the site is assessed as suitable, the BCT and the landholder will negotiate a conservation agreement.
Under an agreement, the landholder will be funded to carry out agreed conservation management actions.
Generally agreements with the BCT can be in-perpetuity or for a fixed term (minimum 15 years).
“The conservation agreements we’ve already signed in regional NSW showcase great support for protecting rare landscapes and endangered wildlife. People want to leave a good legacy of conservation for future generations,” Ms Cooke said.
Expressions of interest will open on the October 22 or November 12, 2018, depending on the location of your property.
Additional information about the program and the roll out is available at www.bct.nsw.gov.au
