A larger habitat for koalas in the Southern Highlands is on the cards, as a government trust pushes for conservation.
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The Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) has invited two additional landholders to sign conservation agreements to protect an additional 1485 hectares of priority koala habitat.
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In January 2021, Minister Kean announced that five Southern Highland landholders were offered funded conservation agreements to protect and manage 1094 hectares of koala habitat on their land.
BCT board chair Prof Hon Niall Blair said that the board's management of the biodiversity conservation fund meant that additional funds had became available to invest in the two important and large-scale sites.
"This is a fantastic outcome to help save the threatened koala," Mr Blair said.
The resulting conservation agreements will play an important role in Minister Kean's commitment to actively protect and increase koala populations in NSW by 2050.
"With these additional agreements, a total of seven conservation areas in the Southern Highlands covering 2579 hectares will be established as a result of the BCT's conservation tender, protecting critical koala habitat for generations to come," said Mr Blair.
"These seven landholders will typically be paid between $178 to $325 per hectare per annum to protect and manage this vital koala habitat.
"This is especially important after the devastating 2019-20 bushfires, which impacted the Southern Highlands koala population."
The Southern Highlands koala population has been identified as one of the most important populations in southern NSW, and a high priority for investment.
The koala habitat will be protected under covenants on title and the seven landholders will receive annual conservation management payments in perpetuity to manage this important habitat.
Conservation tenders are one of several mechanisms through which landholders can partner with the BCT in private land conservation.
To find out more, visit www.bct.nsw.gov.au, or call 1300 992 688.
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