Restoring the bush on private land: perspectives of landholders in Victoria

Abstract

Change in the extent and quality of native vegetation in rural landscapes in Victoria has not occurred evenly, or predictably, across the state over the past 50 years. There is variation in the presence of remnant native vegetation across land tenure, agronomic potential and from site-specific historical events. Even when there is an increase in native vegetation on farmland, it is uncertain how different landholders perceive this change and the extent to which environmental programs influence their management. This research explores the scale on which different landholders were increasing native vegetation on their properties; and the influence of environmental programs on landholders’ efforts to increase native vegetation. Combined qualitative and quantitative data reveal that a wide range of landholders is making considerable effort to increase the scale of native vegetation on their properties; however an increase in the extent of native vegetation in the wider district, particularly by natural regeneration, is not always viewed favourably by some landholders; and environmental programs remain an important catalyst across a spectrum of landholders for the management of native vegetation. The findings and the implications for natural resource management in the Australian context are discussed, particularly in relation to improving understanding of how to engage landholders to restore native vegetation on farmland.

Keywords:

• restoration of native vegetation
• rural landholders
• Australia
• environmental programs

Acknowledgments

This article draws on research supported by Landscape Logic that aimed to explore the links between recommended practices for property management and improved environmental outcomes at the catchment scale. Landscape Logic is one of the Australian Government's Commonwealth Environmental Research Facilities hubs. The authors are grateful to the three reviewers of an earlier version of this article, who provided constructive comments to improve the article. Figure 1 was kindly produced by Simon McDonald and Deanna Duffy (Charles Sturt University). The authors sincerely thank the landholders and environmental program managers who contributed their time and ideas to the research as interviewees. The authors also acknowledge the valuable contributions to our research by our Landscape Logic partners, particularly Ted Lefroy (University of Tasmania), David Duncan, Garreth Kyle and Graeme Newell (Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment), Geoff Park (North Central Catchment Management Authority) and Wendy Merritt (The Australian National University). Also, Vanessa Keogh (Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority), Geoff Robinson (North East Catchment Management Authority) and Damian Wall (Red-Gum Environmental Consulting) provided valuable assistance with this research. Further information about the research on which this article is based is available from the Landscape Logic website, at www.landscapelogic.org.au.