Michael Gill of 'Ilonka', Reidsdale is one of 49 individuals and groups who will receive a 2014 Private Land Conservation Grant for outstanding conservation efforts.
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Michael will receive $2,864 over three years for bush regeneration works including weed control, conservation of threatened species, nesting boxes, assisted natural recovery of bushland, pest animal management which is part of a co-ordinated program and plantings.
“Support for individuals undertaking conservation works on their own properties is important. Why? Because 83.5% of Australia is outside of the formal network of protected areas,” said Ms Susanna Bradshaw, CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.
Ms Bradshaw said, “The Reidsdale property is protected Wildlife refuge, and this grant will help Michael realise his plans for conservation on his own land.”
“Government agencies play a part in conserving Australia’s unique animals, plants, and ecosystems by reserving and managing land in our national parks. Not-for-profit organisations also play their role by managing land in privately-owned sanctuaries.”
“Individual people have a unique and crucially important role to play in the conservation jigsaw puzzle. By improving the habitat that private properties provide for native species, landowners can make all or parts of their own pieces of land into havens for biodiversity—almost mini-national parks, if you will,” said Ms Bradshaw.
“Conservation on private properties can add up to important wildlife corridors linking up habitats between national parks across the country.”
“Individuals who manage all or parts of their properties for conservation deserve our recognition. They are effectively voluntary park rangers, and they provide an incredible contribution to the welfare of Australia’s environment,” Ms Bradshaw said. “The amount of man-hours that these landowners put in is really something to applaud.”
“That is why the Foundation and its partners are proud to offer grants to support landowners undertaking conservation works on their own lands,” said Ms Bradshaw. “This year we awarded over $315,000 in Private Land Conservation Grants right across New South Wales.”