Wildlife refuges
Many people and organisations own land with important plants, animals and their habitats. Making your property a wildlife refuge is one way in which you can protect and conserve wildlife on your property and contribute to the conservation of our unique Australian native plants and animals.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), part of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), works with people and communities to protect and conserve nature, Aboriginal heritage and historic heritage, and administers wildlife refuges in New South Wales. The Wildlife Refuges scheme has existed since 1948 and is one of the longest-running schemes in Australia that supports conservation on private and public land.
What is a wildlife refuge?
Creating a wildlife refuge to protect and conserve native wildlife on your property is voluntary.
The purposes of a wildlife refuge can include:
- recovery of local wildlife species
- restoration of natural environments
- study of wildlife and natural environments
- creating simulated natural environments.
Wildlife refuge declarations enable landholders to nominate part or all of a property where the land has native wildlife values and will be managed for this purpose. With whole property management, landholders can continue to include agricultural and other landuses with the conservation of wildlife.
Who can own a wildlife refuge?
Private landholders, public land managers and lessees of Crown land can declare their land a wildlife refuge.
How is a wildlife refuge created?
Landholders identify land to be covered by a wildlife refuge, and with assistance from the NPWS staff a property report and management plan is prepared outlining a scheme of operations. These plans are tailored for each property, ensuring that other property management objectives can be achieved while improving and maintaining native wildlife protection and conservation.
The NSW Governor then declares the land as a voluntary wildlife refuge, under the National Parks & Wildlife Act 1974, by proclamation in the Government Gazette.
A wildlife refuge declaration is free and has flexibility. There are options for landholders to change the wildlife refuge status when required.
What are the benefits?
Landholders who declare a wildlife refuge join the Conservation Partners Program, which aims to encourage, support and assist landholders to manage areas for wildlife on their property.
It also provides opportunities for landholders to share their experiences with other landholders and partner organisations, through:
- property management planning advice
- biodiversity surveying and assessment assistance
- information about wildlife management
- information about the role of wildlife and native vegetation in sustainable agriculture to control pest species, provide shade and shelter, manage salinity and control wind and water erosion
- links and contacts with like-minded people
- notes and news on particular management issues and ecology
- signs for landholders who have properties registered with the scheme
- access to education programs and activities
- assistance programs to support implementation of management plans.
Partner organisations
The National Parks and Wildlife Service administers wildlife refuges in New South Wales under the National Parks & Wildlife Act 1974.
Delivery of program services to wildlife refuge owners is undertaken by the NPWS. From time to time the NPWS works in partnership with other government agencies, non-government organisations, community groups and local councils.
Conservation Partners Program
The Wildlife Refuges scheme is part of the Conservation Partners Program and is one of a range of options available to landholders wanting to be involved in conservation. The Conservation Partners Program includes conservation agreements, wildlife refuges, Land for Wildlife and other options that support conservation on private and public land.
The Conservation Partners Program aims to provide practical guidance, information and involvement in a range of activities to all 'conservation partners' across the network. Contact us for more information.
Print this information
- Download this page as a printable brochure (PDF - 670KB)
Apply for a wildlife refuge
- Are you interested in a wildlife refuge for your property? Find out how you can take the next step.
Other conservation options for landholders