Clearing land A certified Forest Practices Plan is generally required if you wish to clear or convert native trees or threatened native vegetation on your property. More information can be found from the Forest Practices Authority website (www.fpa.tas.gov.au) by searching for ‘land clearing’.
Conservation covenants One option for providing long term protection to remnant vegetation or threatened plant communities on your property is to establish a conservation covenant through the Protected Areas on Private Land program. A conservation covenant is a voluntary legal agreement between a landholder and a covenant scheme provider to protect an area of land for the future. Landholders continue to own and live on the land, but agree to undertake certain actions to protect it. The covenant (and the responsibilities that go along with it) is generally permanent and remains attached to the land title, even if the land is sold. Property owners who enter a conservation covenant may receive incentives from the government
PLANTS
24
including exemption from land tax for the area under covenant and support to manage and/or rehabilitate the covenanted land. More information about conservation covenants can be found on the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment website (www.dpiw.tas.gov.au), by searching for ‘protected areas on private land’.
Native plants Maintaining local native vegetation on your property has many benefits. Established native vegetation can reduce erosion, provide shelter for stock, food and habitat for native wildlife, and make it difficult for weeds to become established. Local native plants are also ideal garden plants because once established they require little watering or fertilizer and will never become weeds. You can propagate native plants from seed, or buy native plants from nurseries. Some nurseries will propagate seed collected from your property for you. For more information about propagating native plants, you can contact the Australian Plants Society of Tasmania, North West Group at www.nwtasaps.org.au, or the Understorey Network at www.understorey-network.org.au.