The Ecologically Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (ESAI) of the former Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), investigated new ways of protecting the natural environment while maintaining the economic viability of farm enterprises. Many farmers are aware of the environmental impacts of agriculture but require additional resources and knowledge to tackle these. |
About two-thirds of Victoria is private land, largely cleared of native vegetation and primarily used for agriculture. Many threatened native plants and animals occur in these landscapes and are affected by agricultural practices. Agricultural land now provides the last refuge for some species, and its management is therefore crucial to their long-term survival. Some landholders are already managing threatened species as part of a broader aim of native habitat conservation on their farms. |