The NSW Government has committed more than $350 million over 5 years from 2019–20 to fund the Biodiversity Conservation Trust to deliver its private land conservation programs. This investment is guided by the Biodiversity Conservation Investment Strategy 2018.
It sets out short- and long-term targets (5 and 20 years respectively) to help measure progress in meeting the strategy's environmental and socioeconomic objectives.
Public consultation
The strategy is a key component of the government's comprehensive framework for private land conservation established under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. It was published by the Minister for the Environment, following consultation on a draft strategy.
Members of the community were invited to submit their feedback on the draft strategy in 2017. The former Office of Environment and Heritage received 48 submissions and the draft strategy was revised to take in feedback from the submissions.
What is the relationship between the strategy and the National Parks System Directions Statement?
The National Parks System Directions Statement guides the building of the state's network of public conservation reserves. Together with the Biodiversity Conservation Investment Strategy 2018, the statement works towards establishing an integrated protected area system across public and private land in New South Wales.