Plants and Animals

Land for Wildlife - preparing for a property assessment

This information sheet is intended for use by landholders who have submitted an application for membership of the Land for Wildlife scheme. It aims to help you get the most out of your property assessment. To help you to achieve your aims for your property through improved management, we need to know about your plans, issues and information requirements.

The Land for Wildlife property assessment is an opportunity for you to obtain some on-ground advice about your property, to make contact with Land for Wildlife staff and for important attributes of the property to be recorded.

A typical property visit by a trained assessor lasts about two hours and usually involves a look around the property followed by completion of an assessment form (this will be done with the assessor). We encourage all members of the family to be involved in the assessment process. The assessor will not have time to answer all your questions but will be happy to follow up with written information.

It is a good idea to have any questions prepared beforehand and to have relevant documents, such as property maps/plans, aerial photographs, species lists, and your rates notice (for shire details), at hand.

The prompts in the following table may assist you to think of questions you wish to ask the assessor.

Your aims/plans What are your aims for the property? Which areas of the property do you intend to manage for nature conservation? In which areas do you intend to integrate wildlife habitat with other uses? Pest animals and plants What pest animals and plants are present on the property? What methods of control have traditionally been employed to control pests? Are there any plants you are concerned about? (You may wish to collect specimens, preferably including parts used for identification such as flowers, to show to the assessor). Problem wildlife Are wildlife species causing problems for other activities carried out on the property? Ask the assessor to provide advice on control options. Sources of help/materials Local native plant nurseries, lists of local native plants/wildlife, sources of maps/aerial photographs, access to other DPI/DSE specialist staff, consultants, financial incentives. Techniques for habitat/property management How to encourage natural regeneration. Weed control techniques.

Management for small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates (e.g. butterflies). Wetland/stream rehabilitation. Developing a property plan. Erosion and salinity control. Threats to habitat such as Clearing Isolation and fragmentation Grazing (fencing) Feral predators (cats, foxes, dogs etc) Disease/dieback Fire Fertilizers Pesticides Wildlife collecting Disturbance Firewood collection/timber harvesting Issues relating to economic activities such as Woodlots Agroforestry Natural pest control Other concerns/issues

Alternatively, you can print the attached information sheet, containing the above table, which is in PDF format. If you do not have Acrobat PDF Reader you can download a free copy from the Adobe website.

(PDF 51 kb)

For further information please contact your local Land for Wildlife Extension Officer. If for any reason you are not happy with the assistance provided by Land for Wildlife and wish to discuss your concerns in confidence, please call the Land for Wildlife Statewide Co-ordinator.

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