LFW enhances biodiversity on private land on a regional level. Private land conservation provides landholders with the knowledge and skills to maintain native vegetation and habitat on their properties. This contributes to catchment based management targets such as reducing erosion, poor water quality, weed invasion and loss of biodiversity. It aims to improve the management of native vegetation, wildlife habitat and the ecological value of a region, at a low cost to participants.

LFW is an entry level program and Regional Providers act as a conduit for landholders with support of CEN through exchange of information which encourage active participation of landholders.

Local experience suggests that many private landholders would not take a first step towards conservation if such an entry level program were not available. As a result, LFW complements the initiatives of NPWS (now part of DECC) in promoting statutory Conservation Agreements and Wildlife Refuges. It also complements incentive programs provided by Catchment Management Authorities.

CEN is keen to see the program expand to provide landholders throughout NSW with the benefits of the program. CEN will provide support and assistance to organisations interested in delivering the LFW program in their regions.

Accreditation in LFW
To become a Regional Provider, organisations need to sign a Third Party Agreement with CEN and become accredited in the LFW process.

CEN provides LFW training to Regional Providers, including:

•  Accreditation of Technical Skills
• Training in the LFW Process.