International environmental agency committed to conservation in Australia

International environmental agency committed to conservation in Australia

By Liam Taylor  June 25th, 2019

One of the most significant wetland ecosystems in the Riverina area of south-western New South Wales will be reserved for conservation in the largest purchase of private land for such purposes in Australia’s history.

Share

One of the most significant wetland ecosystems in the Riverina area of south-western New South Wales will be reserved for conservation in the largest purchase of private land for such purposes in Australia’s history.

International environmental agency The Nature Conservancy successfully raised $55 million in philanthropy to purchase the Juanbung and Boyong cattle stations where the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers meet in July this year. The combined purchases means the organisation now owns almost the entirety of the Great Cumbung Swamp, an area totalling about 33,000 hectares home to over 130 bird species and over 200 plant species.

The area will be managed in a collaboration between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Nari Nari Tribal Council (NNTC) in a similar arrangement to what is already underway in the nearby Gayini Nimmi-Caira area. Under this agreement the environment of the Great Cumbung will be managed with a focus on both cultural heritage and conservation.

“The Great Cumbung Swamp and the broader wetlands and woodlands of the property are really unique,” TNC’s regional director Rich Gilmore told ABC News.

“One of the reasons that we’ve made this purchase is because more needs to be done.”

Significantly, the purchase means that any potential conversion of the land into water-intensive cotton or rice farms will be ruled out. It will also offer an opportunity to better assess the health of the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers, which has been a concern since the mass fish deaths at the beginning of the year.

An important aim of the conservation project will be to restore connections between these rivers that have dried up over recent years, an outcome that would have significant environmental benefits for local ecosystems.

 

Positive Action

  • Find out more about the important conservation work The Nature Conservancy is doing in Australia.
  • One of the most significant things we can do to help native ecosystems is plant native trees, which support healthy ecosystems for both flora and fauna. So, why not get your hands dirty and plant a tree as part of National Tree Day 2019!

 

Subscribe to Positive Environment News
Positive Environment News has been compiled using publicly available information. Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.

Share

By Liam Taylor

Prior to joining Planet Ark Liam spent his time studying global environmental issues, travelling Southeast Asia on the cheap and working for a sustainable property management company in Bali, Indonesia. Joining the communications team at Planet Ark, he hopes to inspire positive environmental behaviour through effective and positive messaging.

Stay up to date

Whether you're looking for positive inspiration at home, at work or in the community you’ll find something in our suite of e-newsletters.