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

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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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Audience discussion.
Photo by Stu King
Nature conservation on the agenda at the 2011 Landcare Conference

As usual, Landcare Tasmania excelled themselves in presenting their biennial State conference and awards in the beautiful town of Stanley in October 2011. 175 delegates participated in some wide ranging discussions, and given this meeting marked the 20 year anniversary for Landcare in Tassie, it was a time for reflection on the achievements of Landcare and of the NRM Regions.

Many of these achievements were foundational in supporting community interest in biodiversity conservation on private land.
Presentation by Joanna Lyall.
Photo by Stu King

The Conference featured a Private Nature Conservation workshop session. Overall, it was a fantastic conference to be a part of. Motivated organisers and enthusiastic participants left us feeling confident that the future of biodiversity conservation on private land was in good hands: yours.

- By Stu King

The full version of this article can be found in the December 2011 edition of The Running Postman newsletter.

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: Protected Areas on Private Land

Dean Vincent
Private Land Conservation Program
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
GPO Box 44
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6233 5292
Fax: 03 6223 8603
Email: Dean.Vincent@dpipwe.tas.gov.au