Private land conservation outcomes

Explore the positive environmental impact conservation on private land is having in NSW.

Two landholders and two uniformed NSW Biodiversity Conservation staff outside in the bush standing and talking.
616,494 ha

protected forever under private land conservation agreements.

2,600+ landholders

have entered into a conservation agreement.

$17.3 million

conservation management payments made over the last 12 months.

305 threatened species

and 41 unique threatened ecological communities protected.

Support for private land conservation

The NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust holds 2,644 conservation agreements with private landholders, covering more than 2.17 million hectares with 616,494 hectares protected forever.

Through the Trust, the NSW Government invests more than $356.35 million to support these agreements, with 81.9 per cent for in-perpetuity agreements and 18.1 per cent for term agreements

The median annual payment to agreement holders is $102.50 per hectare.

Agreements with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust protect at least 305 unique threatened species and at least 41 threatened ecological communities.

Private land conservation support:

  • 2,644 agreements protecting 2.17 million ha of privately-managed land
  • $356.35 million invested
  • 305 threatened species and 41 unique threatened ecological communities protected

Priority Investment Areas

The Biodiversity Conservation Investment Strategy 2018 maps NSW into 5 areas, ranking them 1 to 5 in order of investment priority.

To date, the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust has established agreements covering 25,197 ha of PIA 1 land, 138,252 ha of PIA 2 land and 66,894 ha of PIA 3 land.

Priority Investment Areas protected by private land conservation agreements:

  • PIA 1: 25,197 ha
  • PIA 2: 138,252 ha
  • PIA 3: 66,894 ha

Protecting NSW Landscapes

Target 1 of the Biodiversity Conservation Investment Strategy 2018 states that by 2023, private land conservation agreements will protect examples of 30 NSW landscapes either not represented, or inadequately protected in, Australia's protected area system in 2017.

The NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust met this target in February 2019, 4 years early, with conservation agreements protecting examples of 18 landscapes not previously represented within the protected area system and 162 landscapes that are inadequately protected.

NSW landscapes protected:

  • 18 landscapes not previously represented in Australia's protected areas network now protected
  • 162 inadequately protected landscapes now protected

Diversifying incomes

Target 3 of the Biodiversity Conservation Investment Strategy 2018 states that by 2023, diversified incomes streams will improve the financial sustainability of participating landholders relative to similar local businesses.

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust programs have made direct annual payments to 228 landholders worth $17.3 million over the past 12 months. This investment has been directed to 246,736 ha of privately-managed conservation areas and circulated through local economies, with about 66 per cent flowing to farming enterprises through the state's sheep-wheat belt.

Diversifying incomes:

  • $17.3 million over the last 12 months
  • 66% going to farmers in NSW’s sheep–wheat belt

Contact the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust

We welcome your feedback.

Our website:nsw.gov.au/bct
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