Major Programmes
Midlands Biodiversity Hotspot Programme
New funding to preserve natural values on your property
An exciting new opportunity now exists to receive Stewardship payments for protecting habitat and special natural values in the Midlands Hotspot area
(see map).
Landholders are invited to submit an Expression of Interest until April 2008.
What are 'special natural values'?
How does the process work?
What is the new funding for?
Why Biodiversity Hotspot?
Who is running the new programme?
How do I become involved?
Need more information?
Native Bush Pea. Photo: Graham Green
What are 'special natural values'?
The new programme is targeting relatively intact land that has existing natural values, for example:
- an eagle, goshawk or masked owl nest;
- habitat for bettongs, quolls, bandicoots or devils;
- unusual or rare native plants such as orchids;
- uncommon native vegetation communities such as - native grasslands, wetlands, heathlands, or grassy woodlands.
List of special natural vegetation communities
Why a Tender?
Application for funds is under a tender-based system where the Stewardship Bid price and duration is determined by you. If successful you will receive stewardship payments in exchange for entering into a contract, the type and duration of which is nominated by you. For example:
- a Stewardship contract between you and the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (6 or 12 years);
- a Stewardship covenant between you and the Crown (12, 24, 48 years or in perpetuity).
What is the new funding for?
Under the programme stewardship payments are available for management that is above and beyond existing regulatory responsibilities or industry codes of practice. Actions that will attract stewardship payments include:
- protection of wetlands or other important vegetation;
- weed control in remnant native vegetation;
- reduction in stocking rates in grassy woodland;
- exclusion of stock from vulnerable areas;
- control of pest animals;
- fire management.
Propeller plant Photo: Graham Green
Why Biodiversity Hotspot?
The Midlands region has been targeted because it is nationally recognised as a biodiversity hotspot. The region is especially rich in native plant and animal species, including threatened and endemic species (species found nowhere else in Australia).
Previous funding delivered under the former Midlands Biodiversity Hotspot Project (2005-2007) successfully secured 1500 hectares of land in conservation agreements. The project delivered a practical model that still enabled landholders to use the land for grazing (at capped levels) and other activities. Run from the Southern Midlands Council this project proved very popular, and demonstrated that there is a real need for landholders in the region to be financially rewarded for looking after their best bits of bush and other land that has important natural values.
Who is running the new programme?
Funding for the new programme has come from the Australian Government's Maintaining Australia's Biodiversity Hotspots Programme. In Tasmania the programme is being delivered by the non-government conservation organisation - the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, in conjunction with the Southern Midlands Council, the Department of Primary Industries and Water, and Bush Heritage Australia.
Tiger quoll Photo: Hans and Annie Wapstra
How do I become involved?
If you wish to participate in the Biodiversity Hotspot Tender, please submit an Expression of Interest.
Please Download.
Alternatively, to request a form please contact Graham Green or the Tasmanian Land Conservancy on the contact details below.
The process is:
- Please complete and forward your Expression of Interest to us.
- We'll conduct an initial desk top assessment to determine suitability.
- If suitable, a qualified Conservation Adviser will contact you to perform a field assessment of the natural values on your land.
- These values will be assessed via a formula ('metric') that calculates the conservation value. An advisor will then revisit you to discuss the calculated conservation value for your site and potential management options. This will form the basis for a Stewardship Contract.
- Once the Stewardship Contract is developed, you decide the duration of the contract (6, 12, 24, 48 years or in perpetuity) and the payment for the contract as a Biodiversity Hotspot Steward. Neither of these issues can be discussed with your advisor.
The three elements that form your Tender Bid are:
- the Stewardship Contract,
- its duration (in years) and
- the payment required for your bid.
Your Tender Bid must be sealed and submitted to the independent Bid Assessment Committee. All bids must be received no later than the 31st March 2008.The independent Committee will rank all the bids, and recommend which bids should be funded by the Managing Australia's Biodiversity Hotspots Program.
Participation in the program is voluntary and you are free to withdraw from the program at any stage up until your Tender Bid is submitted.
More information
If you are interested in discussing the program further and how you may participate you are encouraged to contact:
Graham Green (Conservation Advisor and Project Manager) at
Southern Midlands Council 62545048 or 0422 936027
Email: ggreen@southernmidlands.tas.gov.au
or Tasmanian Land Conservancy
Southern Tasmanian office 62251399
Northern Tasmanian office 63319295.
