Parks

National Reserve System

Getting involved in the NRS - Private individuals

Private individuals include the smallest organisations and have their base in a local area. They may be incorporated bodies such as trusts or private companies.

Typically they establish smaller protected areas that are within the capacity of the individual or small group to manage. These people are very committed conservationists with professional backgrounds in conservation management and experience in managing protected areas.

To undertake the challenge of establishing and managing a protected area as part of the National Reserve System they commit many hours to on ground management activities and seek support from other NHT programme like EnviroFund to help pay for the cost of management.

Between 1999 and 2007, private individuals spent more than $6.2 million to purchase six properties covering more than 161,000 hectares, with support from the Australian Government of $7.3 million.

National Reserve System - Expenditure between 1997 and 30 September 2007 - Private Individuals

Measure

Value

Australian Government funds

$7,306,244

Private Individual funds

$6,272,063

Area (hectares)

161,719

Properties (no.)

6

National Reserve System - Expenditure between 1997 and 31 January 2008 - Private Individuals

Funding Private Individuals

The Australian Government, through the NRS Program, provides up to two dollars for every dollar invested by a private individual to add a new property to the National Reserve System.

Funds are available for acquisition through land purchase or through a conservation covenant over existing land.

If you are purchasing land, funds may be applied towards the purchase price, to establish a management plan, to defray legal costs, or for help in establishing the protected area by undertaking essential activities such as boundary realignment or fencing.

If you already own a property with significant conservation value, NRS Program funding can be applied towards establishing it as a protected area through gazetting the property or entering into a nature conservation covenant agreement. We also have funds for the cost of management planning and urgent threat abatement work.

Ongoing management costs are your responsibility.

You will need to enter into a contract with the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts involving an on-going commitment to manage the property and report on management outcomes.

You will retain ownership of the land, and will need to agree to manage it according to international standards in conservation management.

Read about criteria and how to apply for funding.