Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00346:reg:7:p15
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00346
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 7 (pt 15/23)
Character Range: 191701–194925

sites and habitats within the time frame of this Recovery Plan. Conservation agencies should use all other means at their disposal for obtaining this information, including the survey work undertaken by consultants and students, and then incorporate this information into relevant databases.
    * Some of the costs of retaining native grasslands on farms include lower economic returns, a decrease in pasture production over winter, under-employed resources, and research and marketing needs to establish and run new enterprises.
    * There are also considerable investment costs involved in establishing a grasslands restoration industry, including the need to purchase or retire farmland, develop specialist equipment for soil bed preparation, sowing and harvesting, along with procuring sufficient seed and the skilled labour required. But this initial significant investment would reduce the long-term costs of restoration, which are required if large tracts of grasslands and grassy woodlands are to be created.
However, there are considerable economic benefits to also take into account:
    * Many populations of threatened species or remnants of the ecological communities are at sites (e.g. parks and reserves) where management for biodiversity conservation is already a high priority.
    * An asset-based approach is normally taken by natural resource management agencies, where a cost-benefit analysis can reveal the greatest biodiversity outcomes for the least investment. Management efforts that take a whole-of-ecosystem perspective naturally tend to benefit numerous co-existing species.
    * Protection measures such as providing information to managers, installation and maintenance of fencing and signposts can generally be achieved at minimal cost.
    * Financial and other incentives are available through various schemes run by regional natural resource management authorities to assist conservation measures. These funds provide assistance and help offset costs associated with protection (e.g. fencing and signage), and/or reduced grazing opportunities. Some councils also have rate rebate schemes for landholders who undertake weed control.
    * Visitors to these natural areas provide economic benefits for the local districts, and the landscape amenity can also help increase property re-sale values.
    * Other economic benefits of maintaining native grasslands on farms include: their low use of inputs such as fertilisers, enhanced response to summer rain, improved animal health, reduced need for supplementary feeding, production of finer wool, reduced drought risk, reduced fire risk, enhanced land and water protection, improved human health through reduced use of chemicals and reduced stress, opportunities for new farming enterprises such as seed collection and native plant harvesting, and enhanced opportunities for recreation, tourism, and biodiversity conservation.
    * Finally, any investment in the protection and enhancement of grasslands and the grassy woodlands will be more than compensated by the value of the ecosystem services provided, including: habitat for beneficial native species, maintenance of soil structure, fertility and prevention of erosion, maintenance