Land for Wildlife
The Land for Wildlife (LFW) program is a voluntary property registration scheme for landowners who wish to manage areas for biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
About Land for Wildlife
LFW encourages and assists landholders to include nature conservation along with other land management objectives. The program is free for landholders to join and is not legally binding. Registration in the scheme will not change the legal status of a property.
The Community Environment Network(CEN) facilitates and supports Land For Wildlife in New South Wales in partnership with interested local organisations. CEN holds a licence from Land for Wildlife to co-ordinate the program and use the Trademark in NSW. The licence requires CEN to adhere to a number of protocols to ensure the standards of LFW are consistent across Australia.
How does Land for Wildlife work?
The Community Environment Network (CEN) provides statewide coordination and the framework for Land for Wildlife.
This includes:
- Program support – marketing, mentoring and supporting regional/local providers.
- Provision of signs, newsletters and information about wildlife and management for conservation.
- Maintenance of records and data.
- Provision of BCT grants to participating landholders.
Under CEN’s State coordination, the regional delivery of Land for Wildlife is carried out by Regional Providers who can be Landcare groups, NSW Government organisations and non-government organisations. Regional providers form partnerships with CEN. Regional Providers work at a local level to carry out a consistent Land for Wildlife program, including:
- Promote the expression of interest process to local landholders
- Site assessments
- Provide Land for Wildlife signs to landholders who join
- Advice on suggested management strategies and actions for the property
- Support and encouragement for landholders to carry out nature conservation on their land.
Regional Land for Wildlife providers then receive CEN support in the form of training, advice and information and support for funding applications and registration of all properties assessed.
How do landholders become members of Land for Wildlife?
The first step is to complete an Expression of Interest and send it to your regional provider. You can also complete the Expression of Interest online and send it directly to CEN. We will then refer your EOI to the appropriate Regional Provider.
All information provided by landholders is confidential to the landholder, Regional provider and CEN.
Need more information?
Download the LFW Brochure
Latest Newsletter
Our newsletters are annual, please email us via lfwnsw@cen.org.au if you would like to receive a paper copy or PDF of previous editions.
Benefits for Landholder Members
LfW is free to join and not legally binding. Registration is confidential and will not change the legal status of the property.
LfW supports landholders who want information about wildlife management on their property and provides opportunities for landholders to share their experiences with other landholders and partner organisations, through:
- Landholders may apply directly to CEN for biodiversity grants sponsored by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT).
- A free property assessment and information about wildlife management.
- A report based on the free site inspection and a sign for your front gate highlighting your involvement.
- Information about the role of wildlife and native vegetation in sustainable agriculture to control pest species, provide shade and shelter, manage salinity and control wind and water erosion,
- Annual newsletters,
Links and contacts with like-minded people, - A LfW sign and membership certificate once the property is registered with the scheme.
Benefits include:
- Membership to a nationwide program,
- Free individual consultation on land management issues,
- Site report including advice on managing environmental issues such as erosion, wildlife habitat and weed control techniques,
- Access to education programs and activities such as workshops,
- Information on how to collect and grow native plants,
- Assistance in applying for grant funding.
Ways to join
Join the growing number of landholders managing part of their land as habitat.
Land For Wildlife is an entry level program and Regional Providers act as a conduit for landholders with support from CEN through exchange of information.
If your property is located in an area with a Regional Provider, contact them and let them know you are interested in the program. If your property is located on the Central Coast or in an area which does not have a Regional Provider, and you are interested in the program, use one of the options below.
Option 2
Download and then print the following PDF Expression of Interest form. Complete the form then post back to CEN.
After submitting your Expression of Interest Form you may wish to fill in the Preparing for Property Assessment Checklist (PDF) and send it to.
LFW State Coordinator
Community Environment Network
PO Box 149
Ourimbah NSW 2258
Ph: 02 4349 4759
Fax: 02 4349 4755
Email: lfwnsw@cen.org.au
If the Land for Wildlife Program is not suitable then check out Habitat for Wildlife.
NSW Co-ordination
The co-ordination and regional delivery of LfW in NSW has been coordinated by CEN since 2008 in an agreement with LfW Victoria. CEN works with many organisations to expand Land for Wildlife. A partnership exists between CEN and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT).
LfW commenced in Victoria, where it has been in operation since 1981. The scheme arose because of regular ‘core group’ meetings held between the then Fisheries and Wildlife Service and the Bird Observers Club of Australia. Since 1997, the scheme has extended to other states and operates under a common set of principles and standards contained in the ‘Arrangement to Co-ordinate Land for Wildlife schemes 2000’.
The value of LfW is as a non-statutory registration scheme for landholders who wish to manage conservation values on their property. For many landholders, LfW provides a non-threatening, entry level option that meets their current needs, and helps build receptive communities. In time, this may lead to more binding statutory conservation commitments as landholders become familiar with the benefits of involvement. Local experience suggests that many private landholders would not take a first step towards conservation if such an entry level program were not available.
Benefits include:
CEN’s role as a state coordinator includes:
- Promote LfW through local partner organisations (“LfW Regional Providers”),
- Enter into Third Party Agreements with LfW Regional Providers,
- Provide training and development to staff from LfW providers,
- Provide and manage a central registration and information database for LfW members,
- Coordinate the delivery of LfW signs to providers for distribution to members,
- Provide a statewide newsletter and website pages for LfW members and providers,
- Monitor and report on efforts and achievements of the LfW program in NSW.
CEN will partner with other organisations such as BCT, Greater Eastern Ranges and Environment Victoria to promote connectivity conservation:
- Provide opportunities to promote LfW in the Conservation Partners Program newsletter Bush Matters,
- Encourage cross promotion of non-statutory and statutory conservation options for landholders,
- Provide advice and assistance to ensure a consistent and coordinated approach to programs,
- Arrange for reports on efforts and achievements of LFW to be recognised and communicated.
Regional Providers
Under CEN’s state coordination of the program, LfW enhances biodiversity on private land through Regional Providers. LfW is an entry level program and Regional Providers act as a conduit for landholders with support of CEN through exchange of information which encourage active participation of landholders.
Private land conservation provides landholders with the knowledge and skills to maintain native vegetation and habitat on their properties. This contributes to catchment-based management targets such as reducing erosion, poor water quality, weed invasion and loss of biodiversity. It aims to improve the management of native vegetation, wildlife habitat and the ecological value at a local level.
Local experience suggests that many private landholders would not take a first step towards conservation if such an entry level program were not available. As a result, LFW complements the initiatives of Landcare, NSW Government organisations and Non-government organisations in promoting statutory Conservation Agreements and Wildlife Refuges in NSW and the ACT.
Sponsors and Partners
The Land for Wildlife program would not be possible without the following Regional providers and Partners.
faq's about land for wildlife
A. On leaving the program you will need to advise the Regional Coordinator and return your LFW Sign.
A. LfW registration is conferred on the landholder, however, the new owners are welcome to apply to be registered.
A. When assessing a property for registration with LfW important considerations are the area and condition of native vegetation. The property management should integrate nature conservation with other objectives such as farming. The minimum area is 0.5 Ha. of native vegetation and a commitment to good land management is required.
A. No, registration does not change the private property status of the property.
A. The assessor has a checklist of key items for discussion, and this can be sent to you or downloaded from the CEN website prior to the assessor’s visit. At the inspection the assessor will discuss land management and retention of habitat with you and fill out the Assessment Form and send you a copy. Community Environment Network (CEN) – PO Box 149 Ourimbah 2258 ABN: 97 671 128 158 Phone 02 4349 4756 Fax 02 4349 4755 Email cen@cen.org.au Web www.cen.org.au
A. If you wish to protect the conservation values of your land in the long term, there are several options available including, Wildlife Refuges and Voluntary Conservation Agreements, a brochure outlining these programs in detail is available from your Assessor.
A. Advice and assistance is available to properties registered with LfW through local networks, councils and assessors. Membership of LfW will mean you are in touch with like-minded people or local organizations to assist or advise you.
A. Habitat and native plants are important parts of Land for Wildlife, so locally collected seeds are important in maintaining the quality of the vegetation. Advice on plants and regeneration will be provided during the LfW Assessment.
A. If your property is completely cleared then you need to restore some native vegetation to join LFW. Select an area to regenerate before you talk to your local LFW Coordinator.
A. No, LfW does not change the status of your property and you are required to comply with such directions. However, there are avenues available for appeal and review to protect valuable habitat.
