Conservation and Environment

Rural Landscapes

Victoria's rural communities are increasingly aware of how much the health of their living environment owes to remnant native vegetation. Native vegetation improves soil stability, water quality and farm productivity, while protecting native flora and wildlife. However, many of the natural ecosystems in rural areas have been almost totally converted to agriculture. Only a small proportion is protected in reserves. Early European settlers chose areas close to water sources and with the most fertile soils to establish their farms and towns. Frequently they picked flat, open grasslands to grow cereals. Today this broad acre farm and pastoral land produces food and fibre for local and export markets, and is also the source for natural resources such as minerals, construction materials and water. Restoring and repairing the natural ecological processes in these landscapes is a high priority. Read more about this approach to management in Victoria's Biodiversity Strategy.

In this section

• BushTender and EcoTender
  Opportunities for landholders to generate income by protecting and managing native vegetation.
  
  
• Land for Wildlife
  A State Government program supporting landholders or managers who provide habitat for native wildlife on their land.
  
  
• Conservation Management Networks
  Cooperation between private landholders, public agencies and the broader community to conserve biodiversity across public and privately-owned land.
  
  
• Biodiversity and Agriculture
  Initiatives and resources for maintaining biodiversity while running a successful farm business.
  
  
• Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) Benchmarks by Bioregion
  Classifications and reference points for native vegetation across Victoria.
  
  
• Simplified Native Vegetation Groups
  A simpler version of the Ecological Vegetation Classes for more convenient management and illustration of statewide data.
  
  
• Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual
  A guide to using the habitat hectares method for assessing native vegetation quality against pre-determined EVC benchmarks.
  
  
• Biodiversity Action Planning
  A structured approach to identifying priorities and mapping significant areas for native biodiversity conservation at the landscape and bioregional scales.

• Biodiversity Management Issues for Freshwater Ecosystems
• Land Management
• Landcare
• Fire and Other Emergencies
• Maps and Imagery
• Department of Primary Industries - Agriculture & Food