The RunningPostman Newsletter of the Private Land Conservation Program August 2009 Building partnerships with landowners for the sustainable management Issue 5 and conservation of natural values across the landscape. ISSN 1835-6141 Department of The Running Postman • August 2009 Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 1 2 Message from the Program Manager In the financial year just finished, To put this in the national context: Postman features a number of the PLCP finalised an additional during 2008-09 there were 240 articles that highlight the range 60 conservation covenants with conservation covenants registered of players in the covenanting landowners across the state. on land titles, totaling 252,797 programs run by the PLCP. The hectares of land for conservation Australian Government, private This unprecedented growth of the nationwide. This brings the total landowners and Non-Government Tasmanian private reserve system of land covenanted in perpetuity Organisations are all contributing is likely to be matched in the next for conservation purposes across to create this exciting and dynamic 12 months as we work our way The Running In Australia to 1,569,125 hectares, picture of conservation and through the remaining Forest over 3,987 properties. sustainable land management across Postman this Conservation Fund Program and the landscape. Midlands Biodiversity Hotspots Of course this is really only the Our newsletter is named after Issue Tender proposals. These covenants tip of the iceberg in terms of We also have an opportunity for a small twining plant that is are in addition to those achieved conservation activity on private you to provide photographic images widespread in Tasmanian dry Message from the Program Manager 3 through the Protected Areas on land. Landowners’ ongoing of your own piece of paradise – our forests (Kennedia prostrata). Private Land Program and the Non- sustainable management of first competition. New look PLCP website 3 Forest Vegetation Program, both native bush and grasslands has a The Running Postman is published I hope you enjoy the articles, and as of which have also had impressive great additional benefit to these three times per year, and circulated A sense of place 4 always, feedback is encouraged. results in the last year. reservation totals, not to mention to all the participants in the Conservation NGOs the various rehabilitation and John Harkin various Private Land Conservation – an outstanding contribution to the private reserve system 5 These new covenants contributed restoration works around the state Program (PLCP) initiatives, as well an additional 7,217 hectares of The Forest Conservation Fund 6 and country. as other interested groups and privately owned and managed land individuals. Forest Conservation Fund – preliminary feedback 7 to the National Reserve System. This edition of The Running The PLCP Conservation Fabulous fungi 8 Covenant partners, Land for Gardens for Wildlife – one year on 9 Wildlife members, and signatories to Vegetation Management Conservation activities in the Midlands 10 Agreements now extends to Land for Wildlife – a successful nature conservation scheme 11 over 1000 people. These people PFRP Review and Evaluation – progress with implementation 12 range from graziers and farmers New look PLCP website with extensive operations in the Photo competition: Show off your piece of paradise... 12 Midlands, through to people with Selling Property 12 The PLCP is very excited to • Access to electronic issues of stewardship and resources sections two hectare bush blocks on the announce the launch of its new The Running Postman and for landowners who would like fringes of Hobart, with just about look website. The website contains previous Land for Wildlife further information on managing everything in between. Private Land Conservation Program participants a large amount of new information, newsletters; and and enhancing the natural values on as at July 1 2009 More information regarding the including: their land. • Access to fact sheets, informative PLCP (and an electronic version Number of covenants 467 • Information about our current websites and useful publications. Please let us know what you think of The Running Postman) can - hectares 50,106 and previous covenanting about the website, your feedback is be found on the Department of Land for Wildlife members 706 You can check out the website at programs; important to us. Primary Industries, Parks, Water - hectares 48,638 www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/plcp Gardens for Wildlife members 245 • Land for Wildlife and Gardens and Environment website: The website will continually evolve Please note that some landowners are registered with more than one program and for Wildlife schemes; www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/plcp there is some overlap in the hectares figures presented. as content will be regularly added On the cover: Brown Mountain. Photo by Denna Kingdom, Tasmanian Land Conservancy. • Monitoring and stewardship or updated, with a focus on the Above: The Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata) Photo by Dr Greg Jordan, UTAS. information; development of the monitoring and Design and layout: ILS Design Unit, DPIPWE. 2 The Running Postman • August 2009 August 2009 • The Running Postman 3 4 A sense of place Conservation NGOs – an outstanding contribution to the private reserve system Sarah Lloyd and Ron Nagorcka live we regurgitated in high school. Behind this enthusiasm Conservation management of private category 1a reserves, that are “strictly favourable terms to the NGOs. at the distant end of the ruttiest land in Tasmania is at an all time protected areas set aside to protect It is here that Sarah’s work TLC’s recent purchase of the Egg rockiest romp of a driveway a is a dedication to some high, with over 50,000 hectares now biodiversity...where human visitation, shines: this is no dry academic Islands in the Huon River exemplifies guest is ever likely to experience. simple monitoring covered by 467 conservation covenants use and impacts are strictly controlled text. In mixing her own personal these elements. The property contains The intrepid few who persist in its across the state. and limited to ensure protection of wonderment with a detailed methods; techniques a plethora of unusual conservation navigation will be rewarded with a conservation values...” (www.iucn.org). description of the subject it’s more The vast majority of these reserves values and has a rich cultural history taste of the couple’s dedication to that serve to highlight like sneaking a look through your contribute to the National Reserve Several of these reserves are owned associated most recently with small truly explore nature and find within siblings diary while they’re out. It is trends and new findings. System and as such, are given a by conservation Non-Government scale farming. The diverse vegetation it, a rich uncommon beauty. both enlightening and gripping, and In Life in the Shadows Sarah displays classification according to a system Organisations (NGOs) the Tasmanian communities provide a range of Many people involved in Land for somehow it stays with you. the bountiful results of monitoring. devised by the International Union Land Conservancy (TLC) and Bush habitats for many of Tasmania’s iconic Wildlife will be aware of naturalist for the Conservation of Nature Heritage Australia, who own and bird species, including the globally Life in the Shadows is In doing so, she has captured and Sarah’s inspiring fascination with plants, conveyed her joy of discovery. (IUCN). The six IUCN protected area manage 14 properties in Tasmania with endangered Australasian bittern. birds and fungi. While internationally management categories are: a total combined area of 2,173 hectares. a naturalist’s account Monitoring can be as simple as In short, each of these reserves has renowned musical composer Ron, keeping a written or photographic 1a: Strict nature reserve These properties have been purchased outstanding natural values, and many not surprisingly, has an innate talent of living and loving a diary, perhaps enough in time to 1b: Wilderness area with funds from private donors, sometimes of them have really interesting stories for bird and frog recordings. Ron and Private Forest Reserve. write your own book of discovery II: National park together with government programs behind them. For more information, Sarah make use of simple but effective III: Natural monument or feature (e.g. the National Reserve System the TLC and Bush Heritage websites monitoring tools to further bolster Within the book, Sarah walks us Life in the Shadows is a welcome IV: Habitat/species management area Program), and then covenanted. Ongoing (www.tasland.org.au and www. their love of the natural world. So around her home, then out and up reminder of the stunning rewards V: Protected landscape/seascape management of the reserves is conducted bushheritage.org.au) feature profiles of when I heard that Sarah had recently the garden path and into the forest. for getting to know your reserve VI: Protected area with sustainable use by the organisations themselves, in each of their reserves - complete with completed a book about their The pace is broken up with historical more intimately. The PLCP will of natural resources accordance with agreed management some excellent photos. property, I was curious to read it. Life anecdotes (such as the culinary soon begin to promote monitoring delights of wattle birds) and is kept plans. The PLCP also provides ongoing in the Shadows turned out to be quite activities more broadly through Most of the private reserves in These organisations’ ability to identify light by Sarah’s obvious awe of her support through the Monitoring and a discovery itself. fact sheets, workshops and articles Tasmania are category IV or VI as conservation features around the state, subject. Stewardship team, as necessary. such as this. Sarah’s book, Life in the they have been established to protect organise support and funding, and then Developing a personal knowledge Shadows is available for $50.00 per habitat for flora and fauna.