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| Protected Areas on Private Land Program
The Protected Areas on Private Land Program (PAPL) is a joint initiative between the National Reserve System Program , the Department and the Tasmanian Land Conservancy.
The PAPL program aims to contribute to Tasmania and Australia’s Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative (CAR) Reserve System by promoting and facilitating voluntary Conservation Covenants between the Tasmanian Government and landowners with important natural values on their properties. Natural values of interest include under-reserved vegetation communities, freshwater values, threatened species and geoconservation areas.
The PAPL program is particularly interested in areas that are greater than ten hectares in size and are in good condition - vegetation that has a diversity of species, has limited management issues such as weeds, and ideally is linked to other areas of native bush.
Private landowners play a very important role in efforts to conserve Tasmania’s unique natural values.
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Benefits
Benefits of a PAPL Conservation Covenant include:- Exemption from land tax (for the area under Covenant);
- Rate rebates in some council areas;
- Salinity and erosion protection by maintaining remnant native vegetation;
- Support and management advice for landowners;
- A regular newsletter;
- Supporting applications for funding for environmental works; and
- A sense of well-being from knowing that you have protected your land for future generations and will be making an important contribution to nature conservation in Australia.
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Lauderdale Saltmarsh. Photo: Peter Tonelli |
Red-capped plover (Charadrious ruficapillus. Photo: Mick Brown |
| Saltmarsh and Sea Level Rise
Low lying saltmarsh and coastal estuarine systems are one ecosystem the most at risk in the occurrence of sea level rise. Tasmanian sea level rise planning allowances have already been developed, the guidelines allow for rise of 0.2 meters by 2050 and 0.8 metres by 2100.
Resulting development and associated infrastructure must be careful not to inadvertently create barriers to the landward retreat of coastal habitat. Covenanting land that would protect future locations of saltmarsh and significant coastal vegetation might be one way to ensure this biodiversity endures the change.
In the meantime staff form Birds Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife, DPIPWE and NRM south have been working together to gain a better understanding of what coastal values might be at risk and what tools might be required to protect them.
By Louise Gilfedder, Resource Management & Conservation Division, DPIPWE
More information can be found in the December 2012 edition of The Running Postman newsletter.
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Additional Information
Through PAPL, the Tasmanian Government is inviting landowners to become partners in the Focal Landscapes Project. Landowners are able to sign on with various levels of commitment, from non-binding Land for Wildlife membership, to formal, binding conservation agreements such as Conservation Covenants. The new PAPL flyer provides a general overview of the project.
How to apply
If you would like more information about PAPL, please complete and return the Expression of Interest form.
For further information
Contact: Private Land Conservation ProgramLouise Mendel
Manager, Private Land Conservation Program
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
GPO Box 44
HOBART TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6233 2400
Fax: 03 6233 8603
Email: Louise.Mendel@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
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