Aussies to open backyards to koala conservation
SYDNEY, May 20– As part of its koala conservation strategy, the government of the Australian state of New South Wales has announced funding to support private landholders in protecting koalas on their land. NSW Minister for Environment James Griffin said on Thursday the program, operated through the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust, would give…
SYDNEY, May 20 (Xinhua) — As part of its koala conservation strategy, the government of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has announced funding to support private landholders in protecting koalas on their land.
The NSW Koala Strategy was announced alongside 193.3 million Australian dollars (about 136 million U.S. dollars) in funding in April following the shocking announcement that the iconic marsupial was to be listed as endangered earlier this year.
On Friday, the NSW government released the final determination for the status of koalas as Endangered, the second most serious listing before Critically Endangered.
NSW Minister for Environment James Griffin said on Thursday the program, operated through the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT), would give landholders in the Northern Tablelands, situated on NSW’s northern border, access to funds and support to conserve animals on their land.
“We’re offering funding to eligible private landholders in Armidale and Uralla to protect important areas of koala habitat, which will also support dozens of other plant and animal species,” said Griffin.
The BCT looks to extend conservation to private land and has already secured 19 million Australian dollars (about 13.4 million U.S. dollars) in funding which is expected to support conservation on 7,000 hectares of land in the state.
“At least 60 percent of Australia’s land is privately owned or managed, and many important ecosystems are found on private land, including precious koala habitat.”
“By working in partnership with landholders and offering funding support like this, we can massively increase participation in private land conservation in New South Wales,” added Griffin.
Applications for the BCT fund will open later in 2022. Successful applicants would enter into a BCT trust and receive annual funding. Enditem