Wednesday, 5 February 2025

Statements on tabled papers and petitions

Trust for Nature

Report 2023–24

Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:15): I rise today to inform the Council about the significant contribution of Trust for Nature, an organisation that has played a pivotal role in the conservation of Victoria’s natural environment since its establishment through the Victorian Conservation Trust Act 1972. Going over their Annual Report 2023–2024, it is clear that it is important to acknowledge their vital work in safeguarding our state’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity. They are an important partner in doing that. In the 2023–24 financial year Trust for Nature protected over 1800 hectares of native habitat, bringing the total area under its stewardship to more than 116,000 hectares, an area equivalent to over 64,000 Melbourne Cricket Grounds. This achievement underscores the organisation’s ongoing commitment to environmental conservation on private land, ensuring the protection of Victoria’s most threatened flora and fauna for future generations.

One of the organisation’s flagship initiatives, Iconic Estates 2, is funded by the Allan Labor government. This project aims to permanently protect an additional 1350 acres of critical habitat on private land, contributing towards the government’s broader target of increasing permanently protected private land by 200,000 hectares by 2037. As of this year, Trust for Nature has registered 16 new covenants across the state, covering nearly 408 hectares, and remains on track to exceed its target of 40 covenants. This work not only protects biodiversity, but fosters the creation of interconnected habitats that support some of our rarest and most threatened species.

In addition to protecting habitat Trust for Nature has made significant strides in restoring degraded landscapes. The organisation has set an ambitious goal of restoring 5000 hectares of land in priority areas by 2025. In the past financial year alone 581 hectares of priority habitat were protected, bringing the total to 785 hectares since 2021. With over 3600 additional hectares already earmarked for future restoration, Trust for Nature is well positioned to meet its targets. Through partnerships with Cassinia Environmental and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action the organisation is contributing to the Victorian government’s $77 million BushBank program. This collaboration aims to restore and protect over 20,000 hectares of habitat across the state, playing a vital role in mitigating the impacts of climate change and improving the health of our ecosystems.

Importantly, like the Allan Labor government, Trust for Nature recognises that environmental health is deeply connected to the wellbeing of our communities, particularly our First Nations people. The organisation has demonstrated a strong commitment to engaging with traditional owners, updating its conservation covenant deeds to explicitly acknowledge traditional custodianship of country. This provides greater opportunities for cultural practices on covenanted properties. The Warreen Beek rangers program is a shining example of this commitment. It provides training and employment pathways for First Peoples, integrating traditional ecological knowledge into land management practices. This inclusive approach to conservation respects and honours the cultural heritage of our land whilst enriching environmental stewardship.

However, challenges remain. The accelerating impacts of climate change, invasive species and ongoing habitat destruction continue to threaten Victoria’s biodiversity. With two-thirds of our land privately owned, the role of organisations like Trust for Nature is crucial in protecting, managing and improving these natural areas. The organisation has responded to these challenges by launching the Habitat Forever campaign in 2023–24, which is an initiative aimed at scaling up private land conservation efforts and securing additional resources to meet their ambitious goals.

In closing, I would like to extend my gratitude to the dedicated staff, board members, volunteers and supporters of Trust for Nature. Their collective efforts are making a meaningful difference in protecting Victoria’s natural environment. It is through such partnerships and collaborative work that we can ensure our ecosystems remain valued, protected and thriving for generations to come.