Landholders on the NSW North Coast will play a critical role in conserving critical koala habitat under a new partnership of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT), WWF and the NSW Koala Strategy.
The partnership will fund the conservation efforts of private property owners, such as Tony Rowland, of Kyogle, who has an in-perpetuity conservation agreement with the BCT on 20 hectares of his land on Bundjalung Country, near Lismore.
Through the partnership, Mr Rowlands will be able to access grant payments to manage his property for biodiversity, carrying out activities such as weed and pest animal control, fencing and building nest boxes.
Mr Rowlands will be joined by a further nine landholders over coming months, who will be supported by BCT ecologists and field staff to permanently conserve their koala habitat.
Over the coming three years, the partnerships aims to protect 500 hectares of koala habitat in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, and more landholders with eligible koala habitat are sought to enter conservation agreements and access the funding and support of the program.
Landholders with high quality koala habitat in the Northern Rivers local government areas of Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley are invited to have their properties assessed.
If you think you have koala habitat on your property or are interested in our programs, phone our team on 1300 992 688, or email info@bct.nsw.gov.au.
Credit: NBN News