‘High Camp is the most expensive and largest property bought through our Revolving Fund,’ says Victoria Marles, Trust for Nature’s CEO. ‘The Revolving Fund targets properties that contribute to bigger picture conservation outcomes by the creation of linkages across the landscape. It is also an effective use of funds because it keeps money moving.’ Proceeds from the sale of all Revolving Fund properties are returned to the Fund for future conservation property purchases.

The former agricultural property is located in an area attracting more landowners seeking lifestyle and amenity benefits. The adjacent areas of Kilmore and Wallan are undergoing significant development due to the natural features of the landscape and access to good transport links to Melbourne. The Revolving Fund targets areas such as these to ensure the ecological values are protected in-perpetuity. The High Camp property, like all
properties purchased by the Revolving Fund, will be on sold with a conservation covenant to prevent any loss of its biodiversity value.

Critical to the purchase was the support and assistance of a number of local community groups – the South West Goulburn Landcare Network and the BEAM Mitchell Environment Group. Peter Mitchell, speaking for the two groups, said that the
covenant Trust for Nature put in place will ensure that the land is protected and managed for the wide diversity of native plants and wildlife found in the area.

The property is a forested link between the farming areas and the forest ranges on the western side of the Mitchell Shire. It is predominantly Long-leaf Box Gum and Red Stringybark and provides habitat for a wide variety diversity of wildlife, including
Phascogales and woodland birds. It is part of the Piper Biolink, a recognised area of high conservation value that will ensure the survival and movement of species across the Mitchell Shire.

The property will be advertised in our property section shortly.

Alexandra de Blas, an environmental journalist and communications specialist, convened a panel of three Australia conservation leaders at Trust for Nature’s annual ‘Celebrating women in conservation’ breakfast:

• Sam Mostyn, the Chair of the CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship Stakeholder Advisory Council
• Rosemary Bissett, the Head of Sustainability, Governance and Risk at NAB, and
• Alana Johnson, a farmer, winner of the 2010 Victorian Rural Woman of the Year award and board member of the Victorian Women’s Trust.

Panellists left to right: Rosemary Bissett, Alana Johnson and Sam Mostyn.  Photo: Trust for Nature

The panel discussed the role of women as leaders in the conservation movement and the collaborative approach that permeates how women work. Sam Mostyn stressed the importance of having women in senior levels of the climate change and environment sectors. Women leading organisations and influencing policy are bringing positive results and ensuring women’s voices are heard. She gave examples such as Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and former Human Rights Commissioner for the UN. Mary has formed the Climate Justice Foundation, mainly for women in developing nations around climate change.

And Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, who now runs UNDP, the development program for the UN. Helen’s main focus is women, climate and developing nations. Sam suggested that by taking a gender lens, these women are looking at issues from a different perspective, one of inclusion and collaboration.

Alana Johnson also focused on women’s collaborative skills, through the story of the Regent Honeyeater Project. The involvement of women has been vital to one of the most active volunteer conservation projects in Australia. In the past 12 years, half a million trees have been propagated and planted on land now dedicated to habitat restoration by over 100 farmers. The project highlights the importance of women’s leadership at many levels. There are women who are committed landowners and women members of the Committee of Management. There are women from the public service and philanthropy who champion the project within their organisations.

The four local female school Principals have incorporated the project into the school curriculum and hundreds of women from Melbourne and across the state come to plant trees and also involve their children. All these women are acting out of their concern for the future of our landscape and the development of values and connection for the next generations. 

Rosemary Bissett reinforced the collaborative nature of women with examples of sustainability projects at the NAB. A number of women fill sustainability roles at NAB and these women, who are embedded across different functions in the business, work together to develop and promote NABs environmental agenda and long-term goals. One such initiative is the Natural Capital Declaration (NCD), of which NAB was one of two inaugural financial institutions to endorse.

The NCD is a commitment to understand and value biodiversity and ecosystem services. Having women involved in these roles helps provide different perspectives and insights to the business’ consideration of environmental risks and opportunities in a way that helps to deliver sound business returns while sustaining our environment into the future.

Trust for Nature would like to thank these four conservation leaders for taking the time to share their thoughts and experiences with all of us on the eve of International Women’s Day. It is envisaged that change for the better will arise from this inspiring discussion.

The Trust would also like to warmly acknowledge the support of Bush Heritage Australia in this successful event.

Read the full version here online or download a copy here.

Camilla Graves, Chairman of the Trust for Nature Board, welcomes the new Board members commenting that, 'The skills that Max Ervin, Geoff Driver and Matthew Mills bring to the Board complement those of our existing members. All three have a strong interests in conservation and the environment, and bring technical, commercial, fund management, marketing and business development experience from both Australia and overseas.'

'The new make-up of the Board will assist the Trust strategically position itself to provide a comprehensive range of specialist private land conservation services to private landowners, whilst continuing to permanently protect priority ecological assets throughout Victoria.  We look forward to meeting and inducting the new Board members over the next few weeks.'

Mrs Graves also took the opportunity to thank outgoing Trustees: former Fundraising Chair and Deputy Chairman Anthea Hancocks, Rik Thwaites, and Lisa Gay for their dedicated service to the Trust for Nature Board.  'The views and input of broad ranging skills and expertise, in addition to the support and commitment of these three Trustees have been an integral part of the robust, cohesive and effective Board that the management team, staff and I have relied upon, and we will miss their valued contribution.'

'This is an important time for the Trust for Nature with recognition nationally, and internationally, of the value and importance of natural habitat on private land and its contribution to overall environmental health and resilience. It will be great to have the assistance of our new Trustees to raise the awareness of the general public, and secure increased support, for the work of the Trust.'

The Ministerial announcement is available here and a full profile of the CEO and board is located here.

Read the full story of Wayne and Gwen Furze here: 

www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2013/04/04/565645_dairy.html

Listen to the interview here: www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bushtelegraph/

Commercial Services Manager, Chris Cook, talks to Bush Telegraph's Cameron Wilson in the ABC studios.

Read the full story below and see an article in The Age on Sunday, 17 February here:

www.theage.com.au/victoria/benefactor-wades-through-mire-to-protect-swamp

Tootgarook Swamp, located on the Mornington Peninsula and drains into Port Phillip Bay, is one of the most important wetlands near Melbourne.  It has regional, state and national significance and contains threatened wetland vegetation, such as coastal alkaline scrub and swamp scrub.  The wetland provides vital habitat for species such as the threatened Swamp Skink, Leafy Greenhood Orchids, Australasian Bitterns, and also migratory birds, which are protected under international treaties.

Tootgarook Swamp once covered 800ha of land from Boneo through to Rosebud.  However, urban and agricultural development has reduced the wetland area to just 300ha today, most of which is in private ownership.  

Swanp Skink.  Photo: Ben Cullen

The largest private landowner within Tootgarook Swamp, Rob McNaught, has signed a conservation covenant agreement with Trust for Nature that will secure the long-term protection of most of the remaining wetland.  The conservation covenant will ensure the property is managed to protect and improve more than 150ha of native wetland habitat.  Rob is extremely pleased to be able to support and enhance the ecological values of this important area using funding provided through a native vegetation offset.

A native vegetation offset is an undertaking to protect and improve native vegetation prescribed by planning authorities typically for a development approval. Trust for Nature is not involved in planning decisions around setting offset requirements, however, it seeks to identify the best conservation opportunity once the planning regulator has specified its conditions for an offset. Earlier in 2010, Trust for Nature developed an agreement on a neighbouring property owned by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to improve another part of Tootgarook Swamp.

‘This is the most environmentally significant land on the Mornington Peninsula,’ said Rob McNaught. ‘I bought this property ten years ago and wanted to see it restored, but never in my lifetime did I imagine that would be possible.  The conservation covenant and native vegetation offset now means that I am able to look after this land and support the incredible biodiversity of this area.’

The protection of Tootgarook swamp is a huge conservation win in an area that is under pressure from urban expansion and introduced pests.  The conservation covenant will ensure that the property is not only protected, but the quality and condition of its natural values will be improved through the Trust’s ongoing Stewardship Program.

Trust for Nature’s Chief Executive Officer, Victoria Marles, explains, ‘Trust for Nature is working to help landowners protect the most ecologically important areas across the state on private land. The protection of Tootgarook Swamp is important as it is one of the largest and most diverse native habitats on private land in the Melbourne region. We are pleased to have contributed to a great outcome for conservation and the community.’

In addition to the threatened wetland communities the property also contains a large intact tract of the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1998 listed Coastal Moonah, a threatened habitat, which is believed to have once covered 25,000ha of the Mornington Peninsula.  But in 2002, only 1000ha of Moonah habitat was recorded. 

Rob hopes that his covenant will motivate others to protect native plants and wildlife on their properties.

When: Thursday, 7 March 2013, from 7 am to 9 am

Where: RACV City Club at 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Cost: $70 per ticket or $650 for a table of 10

Bookings: www.trybooking.com/38112

For enquiries, please contact: Amelia Easdale on (03) 8631 5809 or at ameliae@tfn.org.au

Alexandra de Blas will be returning to the stage as Master of Ceremonies for what promises to be an interesting and informative discussion between Sam Mostyn, Rosemary Bissett and Alana Johnson.  We hope that you will be able to join us on the day.

Sam Mostyn is the Chair of the CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship Stakeholder Advisory Council. She sits on a number of Boards, including Virgin Australia, the AFL, the Australian Museum Trust, Insurance Australia Group, and Australian Volunteers International. Sam is also a Director of the Institute for Sustainable Solutions at the University of Sydney;  a Member of the NSW Climate Change Council; and a Member of ClimateWorks Australia's advisory board.

Rosemary Bissett is the Head of Sustainability, Governance and Risk at nab. She sits on the Board of the Moreland Energy Foundation; is a member of Latrobe University's External Sustainability Advisory Board and a member of the Victorian Government's Industry Sustainability Working Committee.

Alana Johnson is a farmer, and in 2010, was awarded the Victorian Rural Woman of the Year. She is the founder of 'Women in Agriculture', and also sits on the Board of the Victorian Women's Trust.

Alexandra de Blas is the Principal of de Blas Communications. She spent eight years as an environment specialist at ABC Radio, where she produced and presented Earthbeat. Alexandra has received five international and national journalism awards and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Ecos,  CSIRO's sustainability magazine.

We are both delighted and honoured to have these celebrated women participating in the second annual Celebrating Women in Conservation breakfast.

Read her article here.

For more on Neds Corner Station, visit the property's website.

Vegetation, management and bushfires

If you need more information after reading these FAQs, please ring Trust for Nature on (03) 8631 5888.

The Feather-tail Glider is the smallest gliding mammal in the world, weighing just 10-14gm and able to glide up to 25m.  This particular glider was recently found in a red gum  tree near the Murray River at Neds Corner Station by Clive Crouch , a regular scientific volunteer at the property.  Feather-tail gliders live in tree hollows and are often found inhabiting nest boxes.  Their diet consists of nectar, pollen and insects.   The last time a Feather-tailed Glider was found at Neds Corner Station was in 2007, also by Clive Crouch.

An article in the Weekly Times this week looks at one of our covenantors properties in the north-east of the state - it is also our largest conservation covenant. The Docker's Plain covenants was also the first landscape covenant entered into by Trust for Nature.  A landscape covenant protects native vegetation, but allows agricultural production in certain areas.

'WHEN driving round Dockers Plains Pastoral Company, it's sometimes hard to remember you're on a working farm.

Tucked next to canola and wheat crops and paddocks of Angus cattle are natural stands of timber, wetlands and a plethora of bird life.

Read the full article here: Environmental focus at Wangaratta

Reconnect with nature and visit a host of private conservation properties this spring.

If conservation is your passion, or you’d like to know more about conservation on private land, or you simply love spending time outdoors, then Spring into Nature is a series of events that you don’t want to miss.  Throughout September and October, join us on a series of walks through private conservation properties and hear about different management techniques and what has been achieved.

This is a unique way to enjoy nature and to talk to landowners and Trust for Nature staff about private land conservation.

Download the full list of events, dates, times and RSVP details here.

For more information and RSVP details, download the event brochure here.

Watch the short film

Download article

This generous service is being offered on the understanding that landowners will be able to provide seed from their own property, collect the grown seedlings from Simon and most importantly plant seedlings on covenanted land only to ensure long-term protection and conservation.  Seed should be labelled and come from at around 10 individual parent plants to ensure genetic diversity. Borrowed materials such as tubes and trays are to be returned or delivered to a depot for easy collection.  Simon plans to trial this service for five years and review its progress for carbon uptake. 

Any covenantors interested in taking part in this project can register interest by emailing East Gippsland Stewardship Officers Kate Allen or Clare Manuell or call the East Gippsland office on (03) 5153 0457.