Across the picturesque landscapes of rural NSW, ready-made conservation opportunities are emerging as a major drawcard to property ownership.  

With a desire to protect our native environment becoming increasingly common, there’s a notable desire from buyers looking for properties with conservation covenants to meet personal environmental goals. 

Recent listings such as Paraken, near Holbrook, showcase the appeal a conservation site brings to the real estate market, especially when the site comes with annual funding to support it.  

The NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust’s Chris Perceval helps private property owners with these funded conservation sites and sees the passion buyers have for conservation: 

“Buying a property with an agreement already in place means the new owners can be within a stone’s throw of important and exciting species like koalas and glossy black cockatoos the day they move in.” 

Conservation agreements with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust offer property owners the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of native species on their land.  

“By choosing to permanently protect areas of important habitat on their property, landowners commit to maintaining the ecological integrity of the site, ensuring native plants and animals are protected forever.  

“We support them to do this and are a constant in their management of that site, so when new owners buy a property with an existing agreement, there’s a lot of help available for them to look after the land”, Mr Perceval said.  

Apart from the environmental benefits, engaging in a conservation agreement can also have positive financial results for property owners.  

Depending on the type of conservation agreement, the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust provides indexed annual management payments to those who commit to conserving biodiversity on their land, offering a source of stable income to fund conservation work on the property.  

“Landholders tell us the payments they receive from the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust have helped them reach their environmental goals for their property and have given them financial security to manage those goals through rough years,” Mr Perceval said.  

“The money from the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust is a win-win - the land is protected and cared for, and landholders get tangible benefits for protecting it instead of paying out of their own pockets to care for nature”, Mr Perceval said.  

To find out more about Paraken, or another conservation property listed for sale by the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust, visit bct.nsw.gov.au.