Habitat Conservation - Managing the Land

The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife is committed to creating safe habitats for our native species and to preserve biodiversity. This commitment is based not only on purchasing land for conservation, but also on caring for the acquired land.

Private conservation organisations in Australia and overseas are beginning to buy and manage wildlife habitat themselves. These efforts, however, are still at an experimental stage, tying the future of the properties to the fate of the organisation. A financial crisis of the care-taking organisation often puts the land and the wildlife at risk of being sold on. The Foundation will continue to monitor and evaluate the success of these organisations.

The Foundation believes that currently the highest level of long-term protection is that of national parks estate. It is protected under legislation and as property of the Australian people.

Pest eradication targeting invasive species, including feral animals and weeds, is also a top priority of the Foundation. The Foundation funded for example research into suitable methods for pest control. It recently funded studies into rodent eradication on Lord Howe Island.

To save the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby and the Malleefowl, the Foundation concentrated all resources on buying habitat and on eradicating feral predators. This combined strategy proved successful, rescuing both species.

Funding was also provided for a fencing project in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. 35 kilometres of fencing, fronting six properties, were surveyed and 17 methods of fence construction tested. The results are a guide to efficient fence maintenance procedures for park management.

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