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DARLING RIVERINE PLAINS BIOREGION Background Report

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16/08/02 Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion <strong>Background</strong> <strong>Report</strong><br />

8.3 OFF-RESERVE CONSERVATION<br />

8.3.1 Voluntary Conservation Agreements<br />

Voluntary conservation agreements (VCAs) are permanent arrangements between<br />

landholders and the Minister for the Environment of New South Wales regarding the use and<br />

management of the specified land. The National Parks and Wildlife Service administers these<br />

agreements. Conditions regarding agricultural use of the land vary. One VCA currently exists<br />

within the DRP and covers approximately 19 hectares.<br />

8.3.2 Wildlife Refuges<br />

Wildlife Refuges are a voluntary agreement between a landholder and the NPWS. Wildlife<br />

Refuges provide legal protection for the native plants and animals on the property. Wildlife<br />

Refuges can be entered into for the following purposes:<br />

conserving, preserving, propagating, and studying native plant and animals;<br />

conserving and studying natural environments; or<br />

creating simulated natural environments.<br />

Forty-eight Wildlife Refuges have been gazetted in the DRP, covering approximately 550 000<br />

ha (Table 8.4).<br />

Table 8.4 Wildlife Refuges within the DRP<br />

NPWS Area Approximate total area Number of Wildlife<br />

(ha)<br />

Refuges<br />

Broken Hill 232 000 11<br />

Cobar 169 000 7<br />

Coonabarabran 64 000 10<br />

Narrabri 87300 20<br />

Forest Management Zones<br />

Forest Management Zones (FMZs) are a classification system used by State Forest of NSW to<br />

classify areas of their estate in terms of intended management. This classification system is<br />

based on the “Nationally Agreed Criteria for the Establishment of a Comprehensive,<br />

Adequate and Representative Reserve System for Forests in Australia” (JANIS 1997). FMZs<br />

1-4 afford varying degrees of protection for natural and cultural values. FMZs 1-4, their<br />

management guidelines and relation to JANIS criteria are outlined in Table 8.5 below. FMZ<br />

classification is not yet finalised for the DRP.<br />

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