The Federal Government’s new Enhancing Remnant Vegetation Pilot project will provide much-needed investment in habitat restoration in the heavily cleared Central West region of NSW.
The project, announced today by Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, will also hopefully advance our understanding of the most effective habitat restoration techniques, which can then be rolled out across the region. [1]
“With almost 90% of the native vegetation in the Central West cleared for crops and livestock over the past 230 years, we must urgently find ways to protect whatever remnants are left,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.
“In some districts less than 5% of the pre-European vegetation cover remains, much of it in poor condition, and the amount of bushland continues to decline due to land clearing.
“Relatively little of this immense region is protected in national parks or travelling stock routes and opportunities to add to the parks estate are very limited.
“Now much of the best unprotect remnant habitat in the Central West is on private land.
“That means farmers are out last line of defence in the fight to protect our unique natural heritage and to ensure we pass it on to future generations.
“While most acknowledge their duty in this regard, some can’t afford to do what’s required. This project recognises this bind and sees to address it in a very practical way.”
Funding under the Enhancing Remnant Vegetation Pilot project will be available for on-farm projects conserving high-quality patches of remnant native vegetation range in size from 5ha and 220ha. The project pilot will run for 10 years.
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