The Trustee For The Nature Conservancy Australia Trust

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Our vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfil our needs and enrich our lives. The Nature Conservancy undertook conservation work across several key focuses in FY24, including 1) Seascapes: restoring some of the most threatened marine ecosystems in Australia: TNC restored shellfish reefs at 10+ locations around the country, including in the SwanCanning Estuary, Botany Bay, Wagonga Inlet (completing the first Australian Flat Oyster reef in NSW), Kangaroo Island, Gippsland Lakes and Oyster Harbour. This program also includes components of a shell recycling initiative. TNC has also worked with partners on the restoration of threatened kelp ecosystems in Port Philip Bay (golden kelp) and in Tasmania (giant kelp). 2) Freshwater: TNC worked on the protection and/or restoration and sustained management of wetlands, lakes and rivers. The MurrayDarling Basin Balanced Water Fund supported environmental watering of wetlands in the MurrayDarling, supporting ecosystems that provide habitat for a wide range of species. As part of a consortium, TNC supported the establishment of a conservation area on Gayini by an agreement between Nari Nari Tribal Council and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust. This agreement was the largest funded agreement ever established with a First Nations group in NSW. 3) Protect landscapes: TNC worked with partners and state governments on securing the protection for conservation of ecologically significant land across NWS and QLD. TNC partners with NSW Government to purchase nationally significant wetlands and create the new Brindingabba National Park, and supported the acquisition of Comeroo Station by the NSW Government as well as Pretty Plains by the QLD Government. This works supported the Australian and states governments commitment to protect 30% of Australia s lands and 30% of its ocean by 2030 (30x30) 4) Climate: we have continued to work with a range of partners, including First Nations to support the development of Carbon Fire methodologies that are not only able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but are also a significant source of funding that can contribute to the sustainability of land management activities across northern Australia. TNC has also continued to work on the restoration of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and saltmarsh, which are important naturebased climate solutions due to their ability to capture and sequester carbon in their soil (Blue carbon) 5) Northern Australia and the Aridlands: we have continued our work with Indigenous ranger programs, supporting healthy country workshops, getting people back on country and other initiatives to improve land management. 6) Outside of Australia: supported work across AsiaPacific with regards to fisheries & forestry management.