Parks

National Reserve System

The National Reserve System program

Shark Bary, photo by Nick Rains
Shark Bay, WA
Photo: Nick Rains

Lorna Glen, photo by Nick Rains
Lorna Glen, WA
Photo: Nick Rains

The National Reserve System program is funded by the Australian Government's environment initiative, Caring for our Country.

The program provides direct financial support to help partners buy or covenant land. The Australian Government offers up to one dollar for every dollar invested by a state or territory agency and up to two dollars for every dollar invested by a conservation NGO or community group.

In the decade to 2007, the National Reserve System program invested more than $89 million to help the states, territories, local government, conservation organisations and private landholders add land to the reserve system.

This core investment of $86 million leveraged more than $105 million from partners and resulted in the purchase of an additional 278 properties for the National Reserve System.

The National Reserve System program also provides support to ensure international best practice in the management of protected areas. This support may include funding to a conservation NGO to develop a management plan or to undertake remedial work such as fencing to establish the protected area.

It may also include direct funding to conservation NGOs or industry bodies such as the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association to help rural landholders establish perpetual covenants on all or part of their land.

In Tasmania, more than 100 private landholders have placed conservation covenants over the land through the innovative Protected Areas on Private Land Program.

Finally the support may come in the form of management or scientific advice.

Indigenous landholders and communities are key partners in this conservation effort. Since 1997, Indigenous landowners have added more than 20 million hectares of some of Australia's most remote and valuable landscapes to the National Reserve System.

Indigenous communities receive financial assistance and support through the Indigenous Protected Area program.

More than 11 per cent of the continent is now protected forever in the National Reserve System.