Fleurieu Peninsula swamps conserved areas pilot project
Fleurieu Peninsula landholders are working with government to recognise ecologically important swamp lands as conserved areas, and contribute to the state’s 30 by 30 target.
This page will help you:
- learn about the pilot project
- learn about the swamp habitat and species
- learn about the process to recognise conserved areas.
About the pilot project
The South Australian Department for Environment and Water (DEW), in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), is piloting the recognition of swamps of the Fleurieu Peninsula as conserved areas.
The pilot project will serve as a learning exercise for recognising conserved areas in South Australia. Conserved areas will be critical to the state achieving its ’30 by 30’ target of 30% of land protected or conserved by 2030.
The importance of Fleurieu Peninsula’s swamps
South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula has over 750 swamps of permanently or seasonally waterlogged land, mostly on private property.
They occur in high rainfall areas, about 50km south of Adelaide, and are densely vegetated with sedges, reeds, heath or ferns.
They are home to about 700 species of plants and animals including several that are rare, threatened or found nowhere else.
Fleurieu Peninsula’s swamps are nationally listed as a critically endangered ecological community.
How it works
DEW is working with landowners who are open to considering long term management of their land for biodiversity conservation.
1. Assessment
With landholder permission, field surveys are being undertaken to review biodiversity values of land and understand potential threats to those values. This information will be used to complete the site assessment tool to assess the sites for eligibility as a conserved areas.
2. Management plan
DEW will work with each landholder of suitable swamp land to develop a management plan for conservation of the area, which is needed to meet requirements for conserved area recognition.
3. Recognition of conserved area
When the sites are confirmed to meet requirements for recognition, with the landowner’s consent, the sites will be formally recognised as Conserved Areas, and will contribute to the 30 by 30 target.
How to get involved
You can contact DEW directly to discuss the suitability of your land being assessed as a conserved area, anywhere in the state.
Email DEW.conservedareas@sa.gov.au for more information or to request a phone call.
