Land & Biodiversity

Mansfield Shire's unique natural landscapes and biodiversity are under pressure from population growth, subdivision, land management strategies and climate change. Through the development of our Environmental Strategy 2019-2023, we aim to implement sustainable practices, information and connection to our community and its relationship with the land.

We all have a part to play in protecting our physical landscapes and flora and fauna diversity. 

Long Term Goals

We collaborate with the community to uphold diverse and self-sustaining landscapes that support healthy ecosystems now and into the future.

Our Environment Strategy 2019-2023 sets out these actions for Council:    

• Develop a Land Use Strategy.
• Identify mechanisms to protect large old River Red Gum, Yellow Box and other species of remnant indigenous trees, via a Tree Protection overlay, or policy statement in the Mansfield Planning Scheme.
• Advocate for State and Federal Government funding and support for pest weed and animal control programs, and legislative change to reduce pest animals (i.e. deer).
• Advocate for roadside weed control funding to be based on weed density and impacts (need) and not roadway length.
• Work in partnership with Taungurung, Landcare, Country Fire Authority, and public and private land managers to support the implementation of indigenous land management techniques (such as burning) to enhance biodiversity.
• Develop guidance on ‘green-gardening’ and soil health for residential allotments.
• Support citizen science projects for the protection of biodiversity and threatened species.
• Work with local environmental groups and Taungurung to develop information for new landholders on topics such as land management plans, protection of biodiversity and threatened species and cultural heritage.
• Work in partnership with community-based groups (Landcare, Friends of Rail Trail and other groups) to improve biodiversity on Council managed land.
• Advocate for the establishment of native vegetation off-set sites within Mansfield Shire.

How community members can support sustainable land management

• Support and encourage community-based environment groups, such as Landcare to continue their contributions to restoring the natural environment.
• Investigate Carbon Farming initiatives to improve land management.
• Plan and develop a network of landscape scale biodiversity corridors.
• Protect and promote native vegetation on private property – particularly large old River Red Gum, Yellow Box and other species of remnant indigenous trees.
• Plant native trees and grasses.
• Encourage local schools to celebrate the environment.
• Participate in cultural heritage workshops.
• Apply soil health management practice, such as compost, conservation tillage, cover crops, crop-livestock integration and crop rotation.
• Organise regenerative agriculture workshops and forums.
• Implement practices to reduce pest plants and animals.