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Natural Heritage Trust and Farm Forestry
Natural Heritage Trust Extension
In the 2001 Budget, the Commonwealth Government extended the Natural Heritage Trust for another five years. The Commonwealth has negotiated bilateral agreements with the States and Territories to match their investment in delivering the Natural Heritage Trust Extension (the Trust Extension).
Under the Trust Extension framework, most funds are allocated to regions based on an accredited Natural Resource Management (NRM) Plan. These plans are based on a ‘whole of region’ approach and address significant natural resource management issues incorporating environmental, social and economic aspects.
The Trust Extension programs
Outlined here are the three levels of investment available under the Trust Extension, and how you can incorporate farm forestry into your funding application.
The Australian Government Envirofund is for individuals, incorporated community groups and sponsored unincorporated community groups to undertake small projects to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable resource use. You can apply to the Government Envirofund for project funding of up to $30,000.
Farm forestry projects will be funded under Envirofund, as long as the proposed project meets the guidelines laid down in the accreditation requirements of Envirofund.
Regional investments are the main mechanism for funds delivery under the Trust Extension, through accredited Regional NRM Plans. NRM plans guide the development of actions to address regional issues and rank the most important issues for action and funding.
The Commonwealth and State governments assess each plan for accreditation. Once they accredit a plan, the regional community will develop an Investment Strategy to help put parts of the plan into action, with funds from the Commonwealth and State governments, and other sources such as local government and industry. Community organisations play an important role in developing the NRM Plans and Investment Strategies, and implementing them.
Farm forestry can address many regional issues. When developing the NRM Plan and Investment Strategies, regions should consider the multiple benefits of farm forestry. They range from biodiversity conservation to improving land and water degradation, and at the same can provide an alternative income source for the farm.
National/State investments will cover activities that have a national or state focus, as well as those that cross over State and regional boundaries and are best tackled on a broader scale. They will also address matters of direct Commonwealth jurisdiction, such as those relating to Commonwealth waters.
Several projects at a National/State level can help regions incorporate farm forestry into their NRM plans. The Joint Venture Agroforestry Program, for example, has extensively researched many features of farm forestry. There is also considerable investment in investigating market-based instruments through projects such as the CSIRO’s Ecosystem Services Project.
How does farm forestry relate to the Trust Extension?
The Natural Heritage Trust 2000-2001 Annual Report said, “Farm forestry represents a unique opportunity for integration of agricultural and forestry enterprises with biodiversity conservation and the long-term protection and management of environmental resources…. Such approaches ensure integrated treatment of natural resource management and commercial production issues.”
The Trust Extension has three overarching objectives: biodiversity conservation; sustainable use of natural resources; and community capacity building and institutional change. This is consistent with the Trust Extension’s fundamental shift towards more strategic investment.
Biodiversity conservation
Farm forestry promotes the conservation of Australia's biodiversity. By integrating farm forestry into cleared agricultural land, several environmental benefits may result that help protect and restore terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems and habitat for native plants and animals.
Sustainable use of natural resources
One of the objectives of farm forestry is to incorporate commercial tree growing and management on cleared agricultural land into farming systems for wood and non-wood production. Recognising that, farm forestry can be strategically designed and managed to increase agricultural productivity and promote sustainable natural resource management to address environmental degradation issues.
Farm forestry activities, for example, whether they are plantations or managed native forests, can provide various benefits such as windbreaks, increased crop yields or sheltered grazing areas for livestock. When strategically placed and managed, they can address water quality through management of recharge and discharge zones, which can lead to an improvement in riparian environments, as well as catchments affected by dryland salinity.
Community capacity building and institutional change
Successful farm forestry strategies will support individuals, landholders, industry and communities. Strategies help to develop the skills, knowledge, information and institutional frameworks to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource use and management within regions.