Conservation > Native vegetation > Managing native vegetation > Heritage Agreement Scheme

Heritage Agreement Scheme

The Heritage Agreement Scheme is a program that encourages landowners to conserve native vegetation on their properties and help to reverse the effects of over-clearance.

When a Heritage Agreement is entered into, it protects the indigenous plants and animals in the area in perpetuity. This means that the responsibility for the care of the heritage agreement area is passed along with ownership of the property. Once established, Heritage Agreements cannot generally be dissolved.

The Heritage Agreement Scheme is an innovative and effective program that holds many benefits for landowners. These include

• clearance offset - establishing a Heritage Agreement area can act as a significant environmental benefit offset to authorised native vegetation clearance
• rates and tax waiver – the land rates and taxes for the Heritage Agreement area are waived (not applicable to exclusion areas or housesites)
• fencing assistance – funding for fencing (240kb pdf) is available to protect the heritage agreement area from threats such as stock grazing
•  Heritage Agreement Grant Scheme – once a Heritage Agreement has been established, landowners are eligible to apply for assistance with management works aimed at protecting and improving the conservation value of the area
• bushland management advice (121kb pdf)
• a Heritage Agreement is an ongoing way for landowners to contribute to the conservation of native vegetation in the long term.

Apply to join the Heritage Agreement Scheme by sending your completed application form to:

Heritage Agreements Officer
Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Management Unit
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
GPO Box 1047
Adelaide SA 5001