Bush Heritage Australia
BHA is a non-profit, non-government organisation which aims to
protect the natural environment through the acquisition and/or
management of land or water of high conservation value or
environmental significance.
Conservation on Country Program
Conservation on Country is a Bush Heritage program that works
with Indigenous people in conservation management and caring for
country partnerships on Indigenous lands and Bush Heritage
reserves. The Conservation on Country program is an Australia wide
program and has three focus areas: Management Partnerships,
Caring for Country, and
Land Acquisition.
Collaboration is Essential
Our Conservation on Country Program emphasises the importance of
conservation partnerships, and is part of our Beyond the Boundaries
program. BHA has set a goal to protect 1% (7 million hectares) of
Australia’s high conservation value land and water by 2025,
and recognises that in order to achieve this goal we must form
strong partnerships with a broad range of landholder groups. We
therefore work beyond the fence lines of our existing reserves, and
collaborate with our neighbours, other organisations, and with
communities.
Indigenous Partnerships
Bush Heritage acknowledges that the country we are conserving
has been shaped by the cultural practices and management decisions
of Indigenous people for thousands of years. We recognise
Indigenous peoples’ ongoing connection to country, their
contributions towards conservation protection, and also in looking
after country. By working together through conservation
partnerships, opportunities for combining different knowledge are
enabled. This means the improved management of Australia’s
biodiversity and conservation values, for all Australians.
