University Conservation Biology Assignment: Land and Agreements

This assignment explores the complexities of land acquisition for conservation efforts, detailing various hidden costs such as survey, appraisal, legal, and utility expenses. It emphasizes the importance of considering factors like permitted land activities, landowner rights, and tax benefits. The assignment then differentiates between conservation covenants, voluntary agreements between conservation agencies and landowners aimed at permanent protection of ecological value, and conservation management agreements, which offer similar protections but are made with the Minister for the Environment and registered on the land title. Both agreements play crucial roles in protecting natural habitats, reducing soil erosion, and regulating climate through carbon storage and improved water quality. The solution references relevant sources to support its arguments.

Regional and Global Conservation Biology 1
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
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Regional and Global Conservation Biology 2
Regional and Global Conservation Biology
Question 1
Some of the hidden costs of acquiring land for conservation include the following: survey
cost, appraisal and inspect cost, baseline documentation costs, environmental assessment cost
(including soil test costs and costs incurred to prepare relevant engineering reports), title fees
(title search cost and title insurance cost), settlement cost, legal fees, escrow fees, local transfer
fees, recording fees, permits, costs associated with providing the required notices to the adjoining
landowners and utilities costs (the cost of connecting and maintaining various utilities that are
needed for the conservation activities on the land such as water, sewerage, electricity, fire
control, telephone, etc.) (ConservationTolls.org, (n.d.)). These costs vary depending on the size
and location of the land to be purchased and the applicable local land laws.
Besides cost, the three most other important factors to consider when acquiring land for
conservation are: type of development/activities allowed on the land such as agricultural,
property development, recreational, etc. (this should be established from zoning and restrictions
plans of the areas) (Brown, 2014); rights of the landowner (such as public access or trespassing
rights and the right to resale the land at any given time) and tax credits (financial benefits for
land conservation such as federal tax incentives) (Kulp, 2016).
Question 2
Land conservation is very important in protecting the environment particularly native
animals and plants. This can only be achieved through joint efforts by private individual
landowners, private organizations and government agencies. A conservation covenant is a
voluntary, legal agreement signed between an authorized private or public land conservation

Regional and Global Conservation Biology 3
agency and a private landowner with an aim of permanently protecting and conserving the
ecological/natural, scientific, historical and/or cultural value of land (Trust for Nature, 2017). A
conservation covenant is beneficial in protecting natural habitats, reducing soil erosion,
providing ecosystem services, and regulating climate by storing carbon and improving water
quality. On the other hand, a conservation management agreement is a voluntary agreement
made between a landholder and the Minister for the Environment to provide permanent
protection of special features (such as native vegetation, historic places, Aboriginal sites and
wildlife habitat) found on the land. This agreement is registered on the land title meaning that
even if the land is sold to another person, the management and agreement requirements are
retained. The conservation management agreement is usually administered through the Office of
Environment and Heritage (OEH), which provides the landholder with the necessary assistance
to management the land (Office of Environment & Heritage, 2015).
References

Regional and Global Conservation Biology 4
Brown, R., 2014. 7 Things to Consider Before Buying Land to Build A Home. [Online]
Available at: https://www.staufferandsons.com/blog/building-a-custom-home-7-items-to-consider-
before-buying-land/
[Accessed 7 November 2018].
ConservationTolls.org, (n.d.). Costs of Due Diligence in Conservation Acquisitions. [Online]
Available at: https://conservationtools.org/guides/85-costs-of-due-diligence-in-conservation-
acquisitions
[Accessed 7 November 2018].
Kulp, K., 2016. These tax credits make land conservation a steal. [Online]
Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/08/these-tax-credits-make-land-conservation-a-steal.html
[Accessed 7 November 2018].
Office of Environment & Heritage, 2015. Conservation Agreements. [Online]
Available at: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/cpp/ConservationAgreements.htm
[Accessed 7 November 2018].
Trust for Nature, 2017. What is a Conservation Covenant?, Melbourne, Victoria: Trust for Nature.