Environmental Stewardship
Frequently asked questions
Has the Government run this sort of project before?
Yes. The Government has run similar projects such as 'BushBids' in South Australia and the 'Forest Conservation Fund' in Tasmania. These projects were also market based initiatives. Some State governments have also run stewardship projects.
How will the Environmental Stewardship investments be delivered?
The Australian Government will form commercial contracts with appropriate organisations to deliver the Environmental Stewardship investments. Depending on the environmental assets being targeted the appropriate delivery agent could be a regional body, an industry group, a non-government organisation or a suitably qualified company. In addition, detailed implementation arrangements are being developed and advice on these arrangements will be progressively communicated to interested stakeholders, including through updates to this webpage.
What will Caring for our Country Environmental Stewardship pay land managers to do?
We will invest to protect and enhance environmental assets through actions above and beyond a land manager's legal responsibility. Land managers have a range of regulated environmental obligations. Facilitators employed by on-ground delivery agents will assist land managers to understand their legal requirements and what additional environmental management activities they could undertake.
How much money is each land manager likely to be paid?
Land managers in the targeted area will compete on the environmental importance of their proposal, the services to protect the asset, duration of expected benefits and cost. They will therefore determine their own costs as part of their competitive bid. Those land managers already performing well on environmental actions are likely to be strong contenders for stewardship payments because their costs in meeting a desired quality outcome are likely to be lower. We will not pay land managers to meet their regulatory responsibilities.
How will the government pay for the ongoing contracts after the first 4 years?
The government has made provision to honour contracts, of up to 15 years, made throughout the first 4 years of investment. It is not possible to stipulate the exact amount of funding that will be required until competitive bids are assessed and contracts entered into.
What relationship will Caring for our Country-Environmental Stewardship have with other environmental funding?
Caring for our Country-Environmental Stewardship has a specific focus on protection and management of targeted nationally important environmental assets on private land. It introduces a new tool which enables the Government to enter into long term contracts with private land managers to deliver environmental outcomes.
The long term stewardship payments give the Government an additional long-term and highly focused tool to complement other environmental funding activities.
What is the difference between Caring for our Country - Environmental Stewardship investments and normal grants?
Caring for our Country - Environmental Stewardship investments will employ market mechanisms that previous trials indicate should deliver better results more cost effectively. These mechanisms offer the flexibility to provide incentives on a timeframe commensurate with the achievement of actual on ground outcomes - up to 15 years - whereas grants are normally a one-off payment.
Further information
Other market based approaches
Key
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