managing native vegetation

The Native Vegetation Act 2003 (enacted in December 2005) introduced a new approach to the management of native vegetation across NSW. The CMA has been given the role of applying the regulations of the new act and supporting landowners in managing native vegetation on their properties through the development of Property Vegetation Plans (PVPs).

A PVP is a long-term plan which identifies actions for the protection and enhancement of native vegetation on a particular property, including offset actions for any proposed clearing.

Some major benefits of PVPs for landholders are that they are developed free of charge and once completed, can be used to apply for incentive funding. They can also provide landholders with greater security to plan and invest.

Landholders interested in having a PVP developed for their property should contact the CMA. A CMA officer will visit the property to gather information on the vegetation, water, soil, salinity and biodiversity of the relevant sites on the property and discuss some options with the landholder for protecting existing vegetation and improving areas of degraded vegetation on the property.

All property information (including satellite images, property boundaries, drainage lines, and areas of native vegetation) is entered into the PVP Developer, which incorporates scientific data and natural resource information from around the state, with aerial photographs for mapping.

The PVP Developer will be used by all CMAs for the development of PVPs and for assessing proposals for incentive funding for the management and improvement of native vegetation. The PVP Developer will also provide an objective assessment tool for determining the environmental impacts of proposed clearing.

Once developed, the PVP allows the landholder the opportunity to apply for incentive funding to help implement actions identified in the plan.

For more information contact the CMA or go to the Native Vegetation website www.nativevegetation.nsw.gov.au