Ecosystem Conservation - Sanctuaries

• Sanctuary Scheme
• Benefits of Sanctuaries to South Australia's Biodiversity
• Endangered Species Protection
• Production and Biodiversity Conservation
• Ecotourism
• Public Education and Use
• Joining the Sanctuary Scheme
• Wildlife and Habitat Support Group
• Author/Contact

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Tanderra Sanctuary (Photo: P Knill)

Sanctuary Scheme

The Sanctuary Scheme is a voluntary scheme aiming to encourage and assist landholders to provide habitats for wildlife on their property, even when the property is managed primarily for other purposes.

Sanctuaries have been in place in South Australia since 1919 and are private or public areas of high value habitat outside of Department for Environment and Heritage parks and reserves. Originally they were set up to provide non-hunting areas for mammals and birds; and for several of today's sanctuaries this is still the major reason why landowners have participated in the scheme.

Sanctuaries are declared on land containing areas of established habitat where landowners are committed to conservation management on their properties.

Benefits of Sanctuaries to South Australia's Biodiversity

Endangered Species Protection

Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard (Photo: M Hutchinson)

Boardwalk Mt Gambier Lakes Sanctuary (Photo: B Haywood)

Sanctuaries have been created to protect several endangered species. On Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula sanctuaries are protecting sheoak habitat for Glossy-Black Cockatoos. Other sanctuaries have been established to protect Pygmy Bluetongue Lizards living in native grasslands in the Northern Agricultural Districts.

Production and Biodiversity Conservation

There are many sanctuaries that combine other land uses with biodiversity conservation. Sanctuary landowners are involved in:

• farming, grazing and horticultural enterprises
• production and distribution of electricity
• organic horticulture and wine production

Ecotourism0

A number of sanctuaries are involved in ecotourism, offering:

• bed and breakfast accommodation
• guided tours and nature walks
• opportunities for tourists to come in contact with Australia's unique wildlife

Public Education and Use

Sanctuaries may also be established on public land. These sanctuaries often combine biodiversity conservation with recreational use by the public. Examples include:

• golf courses
• lakes used for swimming and boating
• picnic areas

Joining the Sanctuary Scheme

Before being admitted to the Sanctuary Scheme, property owners will need to establish that it is their intention to manage the property in a way that maintains and enhances wildlife or in a way that integrates nature conservation with other land management objectives.

To join the Sanctuary Scheme landowners fill out an application form (50Kb PDF) which should be sent to:

Private Land Conservation
Department for Environment and Heritage
GPO Box 1047,
Adelaide SA 5001
Australia.

After an application has been received a visit to the property is arranged by the Department for Environment and Heritage.

Wildlife and Habitat Support Group

One of the benefits of owning a sanctuary is contact with like-minded landholders and a chance to share in their ideas and experiences through the Wildlife and Habitat Support Group's meetings, field days and other activities. Wildlife and Habitat Support Group is run by landholders and is registered as a 'Friends Group' within the Friends of Parks Inc.

Author/Contact

Robin Storr, Private Land Conservation, Department for Environment and Heritage