Bush Heritage Australia
Encyclopedia
Bush Heritage Australia is a non-profit organisation based in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
that operates throughout Australia. It was previously known as the Australian Bush Heritage Fund, which is still its legal name. It purchases land, assessed as being of outstanding conservation value, from private owners, to manage as wildlife reserves in perpetuity. It does so to protect endangered species
and preserve Australia's biodiversity
. By 2011 the organisation was helping to conserve 67 threatened vegetation communities and more than 236 threatened plant and animal species.
who purchased two forested properties in Tasmania, adjoining the Tasmanian Wilderness
World Heritage Site
, to save them from being woodchipped
. He used the money of his Goldman Environmental Prize
as a deposit, borrowing the rest and setting up the Australian Bush Heritage Fund.
The organisation subsequently developed, first in a small way in Tasmania, before expanding to the Australian mainland, and has grown with the assistance of regular subscribers and other donors.
In 1997 BHA acquired the lease of Erith Island
, an island in the Kent Group
, Bass Strait
, used for cattle grazing. It was relinquished to the Tasmania
n Government in 2002 for incorporation into the Kent Group National Park.
, as well as with government departments, and the creation of habitat corridor
s. The goal of the organisation is to permanently protect 1% of Australia's natural environment. The five key anchor regions are the:
and conservation
, a small number of paid staff and many volunteers. Subscribers, who may also be volunteers, are given opportunities to visit the reserves. In the 2005–06 financial year, 83% of expenditure was on "land acquisition, equipment, and conservation management", 12% was on fund-raising, with 5% for administration costs.
The CEO of BHA since 1997 is Doug Humann. The organisation is divided into 3 divisions; Conservation, Operations and Marketing.
) which it owns or co-owns, manages, or is in the course of purchasing:
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
that operates throughout Australia. It was previously known as the Australian Bush Heritage Fund, which is still its legal name. It purchases land, assessed as being of outstanding conservation value, from private owners, to manage as wildlife reserves in perpetuity. It does so to protect endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
and preserve Australia's biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
. By 2011 the organisation was helping to conserve 67 threatened vegetation communities and more than 236 threatened plant and animal species.
History
BHA was founded in 1990 by Dr Bob BrownBob Brown
Robert James Brown is an Australian senator, the inaugural Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens and was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia...
who purchased two forested properties in Tasmania, adjoining the Tasmanian Wilderness
Tasmanian Wilderness
The Tasmanian Wilderness is a term that is used for a range of areas in Tasmania, Australia.The World Heritage Areas in South West, Western and Central are the most well known. However, there are also other areas in Tasmania that have the elements of being known as wilderness areas, the Tarkine...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, to save them from being woodchipped
Woodchipping
Woodchipping is the act and industry of chipping wood for pulp, processed wood products, and mulch.-Papermaking:Timber is converted to woodchips and sold, primarily, for pulp production used in paper manufacture...
. He used the money of his Goldman Environmental Prize
Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize is a prize awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists, one from each of the world's six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America. The prize includes a no-strings-attached award of...
as a deposit, borrowing the rest and setting up the Australian Bush Heritage Fund.
The organisation subsequently developed, first in a small way in Tasmania, before expanding to the Australian mainland, and has grown with the assistance of regular subscribers and other donors.
In 1997 BHA acquired the lease of Erith Island
Erith Island (Tasmania)
Erith Island is a granite island, with an area of 323 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is the second largest of Tasmania’s Kent Group, lying in northern Bass Strait between the Furneaux Group and Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. It is now part of the Kent Group National Park, Tasmania’s...
, an island in the Kent Group
Kent Group
The Kent Group of Islands lies in Bass Strait, Australia, north-west of the Furneaux Group. They form the Kent Group National Park.The islands were named Kent's Group by Matthew Flinders, "in honour of my friend captain William Kent, then commander of the Supply" when Flinders passed them on...
, Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
, used for cattle grazing. It was relinquished to the Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
n Government in 2002 for incorporation into the Kent Group National Park.
Aims
BHA is striving for the long term protection of Australia's biodiversity through the acquisition and management of land, water and wildlife of outstanding conservation significance. In order to do so it focusses its attention and investment on five broad 'anchor' regions across Australia, selected for a combination of criteria, including the number of threatened species and ecosystems, the number of endemic species, and the general condition of the lands within the region. Care of BHA owned properties includes the rehabilitation of degraded land, the control of introduced herbivores and predators, the use of fire as a management tool, consultation and cooperation with neighbouring ladowners and traditional ownersIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
, as well as with government departments, and the creation of habitat corridor
Habitat corridor
A habitat corridor is a strip of land that aids in the movement of species between disconnected areas of their natural habitat. An animal’s natural habitat would typically include a number of areas necessary to thrive, such as wetlands, burrowing sites, food, and breeding grounds...
s. The goal of the organisation is to permanently protect 1% of Australia's natural environment. The five key anchor regions are the:
- Gulf of CarpentariaGulf of CarpentariaThe Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...
to the Channel CountryChannel CountryThe Channel Country is region of outback Australia located mostly in the state of Queensland but also in portions of South Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales. The name comes from the numerous intertwined rivulets that cross the region, which cover 150,000 km²...
(and Lake EyreLake EyreLake Eyre is the lowest point in Australia, at approximately below sea level, and, on the rare occasions that it fills, it is the largest lake in Australia and 18th largest in the world...
), covering much of the eastern Northern Territory, western Queensland and north-eastern South Australia - Queensland Uplands and the Brigalow Belt, covering much of the Great Dividing RangeGreat Dividing RangeThe Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
in central eastern Queensland - Grassy Box Woodlands of south-eastern Australia, mainly in Victoria and New South Wales
- Tasmanian Midlands - the grasslands of central Tasmania
- South West Botanical ProvinceSouthwest AustraliaSouthwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
, the south-western corner of Australia
Governance
BHA is run by an independent board of directors skilled in land managementLand management
Land management is the process of managing the use and development of land resources. Land resources are used for a variety of purposes which may include organic agriculture, reforestation, water resource management and eco-tourism projects.-See also:*Sustainable land management*Acreage...
and conservation
Conservation ethic
Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
, a small number of paid staff and many volunteers. Subscribers, who may also be volunteers, are given opportunities to visit the reserves. In the 2005–06 financial year, 83% of expenditure was on "land acquisition, equipment, and conservation management", 12% was on fund-raising, with 5% for administration costs.
The CEO of BHA since 1997 is Doug Humann. The organisation is divided into 3 divisions; Conservation, Operations and Marketing.
Ambassadors
The BHA the following ambassadors:- Tim FischerTim FischerTimothy Andrew Fischer, AC , is a former Australian politician. He served as Deputy Prime Minister in the Howard Government from 1996 before retiring from Cabinet in 1999...
(2006-present) - Chris DarwinChris DarwinChristopher William Darwin lives in Australia and works for High and Wild and the Australian School of Mountaineering, guiding canyoning, rock climbing, mountaineering, abseiling and nature walks. He is the great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin.-Biography:Darwin was born in 1961 in London...
(2009-present) - Phillip AdamsPhillip AdamsPhillip Andrew Hedley Adams, AO is an Australian broadcaster, film producer, writer, social commentator, satirist and left-wing pundit. He currently hosts a radio program, Late Night Live, four nights a week on the ABC, and he also writes a weekly column for the News Limited-owned newspaper, The...
- John WilliamsonJohn WilliamsonJohn Williamson is the name of:* Jack Williamson , American science fiction writer* John H. Williamson , American, North Carolina politician and newspaper publisher* John N. Williamson , American, U.S...
- Roger WoodwardRoger WoodwardRoger Woodward AC OBE is an Australian classical concert pianist.-Biography:Roger Woodward was born in 1942 in Chatswood, a suburb of Sydney, the youngest of four children to Gladys and Frank Woodward...
Reserves
BHA has (as of October 2008) reserves totalling about 9,450 km² (945,000 haHectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
) which it owns or co-owns, manages, or is in the course of purchasing:
- Bon BonBon Bon ReserveBon Bon Reserve is a 2168 km2 nature reserve in South Australia, lying between the Great Victoria Desert and the Eyre Peninsula and bisected by the Stuart Highway. It is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia...
(SA) - BoolcoomattaBoolcoomatta ReserveBoolcoomatta Reserve is a 630 km2 nature reserve in eastern South Australia, 463 km north-east of Adelaide and 100 km west of Broken Hill. It is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia .-History:...
(SA) - BrogoBrogo ReserveBrogo Reserve is a nature reserve at the north-eastern end of the Bega Valley in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia. It is south of Sydney and north of Bega. It is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia which purchased the property in 1995.-Landscape and vegetation:Brogo...
(NSW) - Burrin BurrinBurrin Burrin ReserveBurrin Burrin Reserve is a nature reserve in the upper reaches of the Shoalhaven River catchment in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia. It is south-west of Sydney, east of Canberra, and north of Braidwood...
(NSW) - Carnarvon StationCarnarvon Station ReserveCarnarvon Station Reserve is a 59,000–hectare nature reserve in the Great Dividing Range of south-eastern Central Queensland, Australia. It is adjacent to Carnarvon National Park, and includes most of the Channin Creek valley. It is 600 km west of Bundaberg, and 744 km north-west of Brisbane. It...
(Queensland) - Charles DarwinCharles Darwin ReserveCharles Darwin Reserve is a 686 km2 nature reserve in Western Australia. Formerly Whitewells Station, it is 90 km from Wubin and 355 km north of Perth. It lies within the South West Botanical Province on the northern edge of the Wheatbelt, and is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia , by...
(WA) - Chereninup CreekChereninup Creek ReserveChereninup Creek Reserve is an 8.77 km2 nature reserve in south-west Western Australia. It is 340 km west of Esperance, 140 km north-east of Albany and 430 km south-east of Perth...
(WA) - Cravens PeakCravens Peak ReserveCravens Peak Reserve is a 233,000–hectare nature reserve in Central West Queensland, Australia, 135 km south-west of Boulia and 471 km south of Mount Isa. It lies at the northern end of the Simpson Desert and includes parts of the Simpson-Strezlecki Dunefields and Channel Country bioregions. Its...
(Queensland) - Currumbin ValleyCurrumbin Valley ReserveCurrumbin Valley Reserve is a 4 ha nature reserve in the Gold Coast hinterland of south-east Queensland, Australia, west of Coolangatta, 105 km south of Brisbane...
(Queensland)
- EdgbastonEdgbaston ReserveEdgbaston Reserve, formerly Edgbaston Station, is a nature reserve in central Queensland, Australia, north-east of Longreach. It lies in the upper catchment of Pelican Creek, which flows into the Thomson River and, ultimately, into Lake Eyre. It lies within the Great Artesian Basin and is...
(Queensland) - EthabukaEthabuka ReserveEthabuka Reserve is a 213,300–hectare nature reserve in Central West Queensland, Australia, 157 km north-west of Bedourie, 336 km south-west of Boulia and 639 km south of Mount Isa. It lies at the northern end of the Simpson Desert with its western boundary bordering the Northern Territory...
(Queensland) - EurardyEurardy ReserveEurardy Reserve is a nature reserve in Western Australia. It is north of Geraldton, south of Carnarvon and north of Perth. It lies on the northern edge of the South West Botanical Province, adjoining Kalbarri National Park, and is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia , by which it was...
(WA) - Fan PalmFan Palm ReserveFan Palm Reserve is an 8.2 ha nature reserve in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is located in the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Site, 20 km north of Daintree and 40 km north of Mossman...
(Queensland) - Friendly BeachesFriendly Beaches ReserveFriendly Beaches Reserve is a 140 ha coastal nature reserve in eastern Tasmania, Australia, 190 km north-east of Hobart and 180 km south-east of Launceston. It is located on the north-east side of the Freycinet Peninsula, bordering the Freycinet National Park...
(Tasmania) - GoonderooGoonderoo ReserveGoonderoo Reserve is a 593–hectare nature reserve in the Brigalow belt of Queensland, Australia. It is located 40 km south of Emerald, 300 km west of Rockhampton and 835 km north-west of Brisbane. It is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia , by which it was purchased in 1998.-History:The...
(Queensland) - KojonupKojonup ReserveKojonup Reserve is a nature reserve in south-west Western Australia. It is north-east of Kojonup, north-west of Albany and south-east of Perth...
(WA) - Liffey ValleyLiffey Valley ReserveLiffey Valley Reserve is a nature reserve comprising three separate parcels of land, with a combined area of 261 ha, in the Liffey Valley of northern Tasmania, Australia. They lie about 55 km south-west of Launceston and 25 km south-east of Deloraine...
(Tasmania) - MonjebupMonjebup ReserveMonjepbup Reserve is a 20.63 km2 nature reserve in south-west Western Australia. It is 140 km north-east of Albany, 340 km west of Esperance and 430 km south-east of Perth...
(WA)
- Nameless SylvanNameless Sylvan ReserveNameless Sylvan Reserve is a nature reserve on the Illawarra Escapment of south-eastern New South Wales, Australia. It is north of Berry, and close to the Barren Grounds Nature Reserve...
(NSW) - Nardoo Hills (Victoria)
- Peniup CreekPeniup Creek ReservePeniup Creek Reserve is a 24.09 km2 nature reserve in south-west Western Australia. It is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia , by which it was purchased jointly with Greening Australia in 2007, and forms part of the project, in which BHA is a partner.-Flora and fauna:The reserve...
(WA) - Reedy CreekReedy Creek ReserveReedy Creek Reserve is a 452–hectare nature reserve on the coast of south-eastern Queensland, Australia, 3 km south of the expanding tourist township of Agnes Water and borders the Deepwater National Park. It is located 134 km north of Bundaberg and 495 km north of Brisbane...
(Queensland) - ScottsdaleScottsdale ReserveScottsdale Reserve is a nature reserve on the Murrumbidgee River in south-central New South Wales, Australia. It is south of Canberra, and north of Bredbo...
(NSW) - South Esk PineSouth Esk Pine ReserveSouth Esk Pine Reserve is a nature reserve in eastern Tasmania, Australia, north-east of Hobart, on the Apsley River near Coles Bay. It is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia , by which it was purchased in 1998.-Natural values:...
(Tasmania) - Tarcutta HillsTarcutta Hills ReserveTarcutta Hills Reserve is a nature reserve on the lower western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in central west New South Wales, Australia. It is south-west of Sydney, close to the Hume Highway, and south of Tarcutta...
(NSW) - Yarrabee WesfarmersYarrabee Wesfarmers ReserveYarrabee Wesfarmers Reserve is a 9.23 km2 nature reserve in south-west Western Australia. It is 120 km north-east of Albany and 481 km south-east of Perth. It lies on the eastern boundary of the Stirling Range National Park, and is managed by Bush Heritage Australia , by which it was purchased in...
(WA) - YourkaYourka ReserveYourka Reserve is a 43,500–hectare nature reserve in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is a former cattle station in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion on the western edge of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Site, 130 km south of Cairns, with the nearest town being Ravenshoe...
(Queensland)
See also
- Conservation in AustraliaConservation in AustraliaConservation in Australia is an issue of state and federal policy. Australia is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, with a large portion of species endemic to Australia...
- List of threatened flora of Australia
- Threatened fauna of Australia
External links
- Bush Heritage Australia - official website
- Biodiversity in the Lake Macquarie Region