Annual Report 1999-2000

PROGRAMME: COVENANTING

Objective: The Trust is proud of its commitment to the conservation of natural heritage values, which is a component of all of its programs, though most particularly apparent in the Conservation Covenanting Program.

Key Strategies:

• Establish a community-based voluntary conservation covenanting program in Western Australia in co-operation with landowners.

• Develop a complementary network of protected areas in Western Australia to assist with protection and management of natural heritage values, conservation of biodiversity, and to enhance the National Reserve System.

• Establish and nurture a network of experienced, skilled landowners who can:

  • plan, implement and assess the outcomes of appropriate environmental management strategies

  • identify what assistance they need

  • source the appropriate assistance, and

  • assist others to gain these skills.

• Establish and maintain an effective, regionally-based stewardship program to support covenanting landowners, incorporating effective monitoring and auditing protocols.

• Develop linkages with complementary organizations and individuals to develop natural resource management and protection capabilities within the community.

• Promote off-reserve conservation with a particular emphasis on conservation covenanting

Major Achievements:

Supporting the Core Business of Covenanting -

• Provide for both owner-requested and strategic identification of high conservation value properties

• Secure long-term core funding

• Focus on landowners

• Develop a range of support mechanisms for Covenantors

Making it Easier to Covenant

• Identify and remove obstacles to covenanting

• Refine and de-mystify the legal aspects of Covenanting

Promoting Covenanting as a Conservation Tool

• Develop a marketing and communication program

• Promote integration of Private Land Conservation into Government Policies and Strategies

• Identify areas for covenanting on landscape or multi-owner scale.

• Develop partnerships with complementary programs and organizations

The Program has finalised covenants over 1089.5 ha on 15 properties in its first 15 months of operation. Currently negotiations are proceeding over 9100ha on 38 properties with owners who have invited the Trust to covenant their bushland. Another 15 owners are considering covenanting with the Trust.

Properties of particular interest include:

• 50ha of land adjacent to West Cape Howe National Park. The land includes Torbay Hill and includes the upper levels of a full catena of the Pleistocene and Holocene geological development of the coastal area, complete with undisturbed ecosystems. The property supports a range of rare and other priority species. (ready for signing).

• A property at Coorow with 2,857 ha of vegetation incorporating a chain of naturally saline wetlands, at least two DRF species and at least five Priority flora species, as well as Priority fauna. (in early negotiations)

• A property at Westonia with 952ha of uncleared bushland including 81 ha of granite outcrops and a population of pink flowered White Gum (E capillosa). Property is adjacent to Sandford Rocks Nature Reserve. (under negotiation)

• A property at Manypeaks with 35ha of Karri. The Karri is at the easternmost end of its range and grows in 75% of the rainfall received in the main Karri belt. (under negotiation)

• Two properties (both under negotiation) that are part of the Biglincs Project, which links 12-15 properties with native vegetation connecting the Hester Conservation Block to the Blackwood River. Other property owners within the Biglincs project have expressed an interest in covenanting and it is hoped that more will follow.

• Hi Vallee Farm, an ecotourism and grazing property of 700 ha run by Joy and Don Williams in the Badgingara area. (under negotiation)

Other Program achievements:

• The program was launched as a part of the State Heritage Convention in April 1999 and, despite limited publicity to date, has a steady flow of requests to covenant.

• A consortium of Government and Community groups, including the National Trust, proposed to establish a revolving fund for WA, called Bush Bank. Environment Australia has ranked the WA proposal as its highest priority and discussions are currently being held to establish the program under the umbrella of the National Trust. One of the prime attractions of the proposal was the inclusion of government and non-government covenanting programs in the consortium.

• The Covenanting Committee and the Environmental Defender's Office have developed proformas of the draft Restrictive Covenant and Deed of Trust. These are adapted to suit the needs of each landowner and property.

• Negotiations are proceeding with 25 other owners, and 21 other owners have expressed serious interest.

• The Trust is working to establish partnerships with LGAs both to develop strategic support for covenantors, and to identify high priorities areas. Currently the Trust is working with the Shires of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Greenough, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Quairading, Busselton and Chittering.

• The Trust has addressed all 144 Local Governments in the State through WAMA Zone Meetings and Country Shire Association Ward Meetings. One full-day seminar has been held for peri-urban councils on covenanting as a conservation tool, and a further full day seminar was held in Nannup.

• Six articles have been printed in newsletters of organisations including Environmental Defender's Office, Greening Australia, Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire (2), WAMA and Greenough Shire.

• A pilot program of nine regional representatives was successful in accessing regional networks and generating new covenants (21 referrals to date). Contracts for 13 regional representatives were finalised. The network covers the majority of the South West Agricultural Division between Geraldton and Esperance, and includes a representative in the Goldfields. A one day training seminar was held on 28th April.

Acknowledgements:

The Program is very appreciative of the support given by a range of groups and organizations, including:

• the dedication of the Gordon Reid Foundation for Conservation in pursuing the concept of conservation covenanting programs for WA;

• funding support from the Lotteries Commission and the Natural Heritage Trust;

• the Soil & Land Council's decision to make their RVPS funds available to NT covenantors,

• and the Environmental Defenders Office to provide their support with access to free legal opinions on the covenanting of leasehold and Crown Land.