Landholder eligibility and participation
Conserved areas are flexible, voluntary and designed to celebrate conservation beyond national parks. Find out how you could get involved.
This page will help you:
- understand if your land may be eligible
- have an overview of the process
- begin an enquiry.
What kind of land may be eligible?
Conserved areas may be recognised on many land types:
- private land
- pastoral land
- local government reserves
- state government land
- Commonwealth land
- First Nations land
- environmental management or offset sites.
The land does not have to be primarily used for conservation, but it must have biodiversity values.
Assessment
When a landholder enquires about establishing a conserved area, the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) will seek consent to assess the area.
A national site assessment tool is used to assess whether a site meets the requirements for conserved area recognition. The site assessment tool captures information on the boundary of a potential conserved area, its biodiversity values, potential threats to those values, and management requirements.
Management plan
If the assessment determines the site could be eligible to be a conserved area, an experienced natural resource manager will work with the landowner and land manager. Together they will develop a plan for management of the area, and regular monitoring and review.
Management arrangements must be in place before a site can be recognised as a Conserved Area.
DEW will work with landowners to ensure the terms and conditions of the management arrangement are mutually agreed and understood.
Recognition of conserved area
Once the site assessment tool is complete and assessment of the information provided determines a site meets the requirements, with the landowner’s consent, the conserved area will be formally recognised.
Once the conserved area is recognised it will contribute to the 30 by 30 target.
Information will be published on the state register and provided to the Australian Government. The level of information that is made publicly available will be subject to landowner consent.
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.
Alternatively, you can use the Australian Government site assessment tool to undertake your own self-assessment to assess whether a site meets the requirements for recognition as a Conserved Area.
