By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 04:34:53 +0000

Maintaining koala habitat and ensuring the koala population flourishes should be considered a national and state priority. In many other countries, farmers are incentivised for their work in managing areas of privately held land to ensure crucial waterways, landscapes and habitats are maintained. These are usually known as PES (Payment for Environmental/Ecosystem Services). Through this system, private landholders are recognised as land managers of natural assets that are highly valued by the broader community and, in the case of Australian wildlife, would have a measurable market value in terms of tourism. In general, such systems are publicly funded in recognition that the natural assets they protect and preserve are valuable to all.
Introducing a PES system for preservation of koala habitat could be vital for ensuring the longer term survival of the wild koala population. A large amount of preparatory work would be needed to map the existing habitat areas accurately and to model a system of payments based on the land area
identified on private land. A training program for farmers and land managers would be needed and a detailed, realistic management program modelled so that payment to landholders for their service is proportionate and appropriate.
When wind turbines are sited on private land the energy generator pays a fee. Similarly, what I am suggesting is that land holders should receive payment for their role in preserving a national asset. The loss of koalas and koala habitat is a national disgrace and we must all take responsibility for turning this trajectory around as fast as we can. Now that the SEPP has been voted down, NSW has the opportunity to lead the way in developing powerful new strategies for protecting important habitat areas. NSW Farmers should act now to get a PES system underway.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 06:35:21 +0000

Before the political stoush about the Koala SEPP I didn’t have a view. So I went an looked up on the interactive map to see if any area of our farm was affected, knowing there had never been an koalas on the property. To my surprise almost every inch of the property is a “koala habitat” and I will need a Koala Habitat Survey, Koala Count and Koala Management Plan before I can submit DA’s to replace fences, sheds and our house that were lost in the fires on 4 Jan 20. This is madness. Sincerely, I would love to have koalas, and if I did I’d fence of f acres to protect them and plant feed tree species to help. I build and attach nesting boxes for natives using a cherry picker, but they were also lost in the fires. The sad thing about this current SEPP is that some political parties (Liberal and ALP) are painting farmers as anti Koala when nothing is further from the truth. I’ve been a Liberal voter, but I think it’s time to consider the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party because someone needs to have that balance of power to bring some sanity to debate on matters like this.

Comments on: Farmers and koala conservation

By: Susan

By: Andrew