VISIT THE WILDLIFE LAND TRUST WEBSITE

In 2007 Humane Society International launched the Wildlife Land Trust (WLT) Australia in an effort to preserve and protect our vital native habitats and the animals that depend on them, in a network of permanent sanctuaries both throughout the country and internationally.

Working under the guiding principle of "humane stewardship", the WLT protects not only vast and impressive landscapes, but also the smaller, humbler places that provide for the needs of all wildlife, rare and common species alike.

Since being initiated by The Humane Society of the United States in 1993, the WLT has grown to protect more than 1.8 million acres of habitat in Australia, Canada, South Africa, USA, Belize, Romania, Jamaica, India and Indonesia.

In Australia the number of member properties and the interest in the program is growing every day, with several properties in various stages of registration. Our goal is to see the protection of one million acres of wildlife habitat across Australia in the Wildlife Land Trust sanctuary network, and to seek the expansion of the Wildlife Land Trust sanctuary partnerships throughout Africa, India and south-east Asia.

Member benefits include:

- Becoming part of a continually growing national and international network of sanctuaries, promoting best conservation practices and protecting wildlife and habitats around the world

- The facilitation of useful communication between sanctuary members, as well as HSI staff and experienced land managers and native wildlife rehabilitators

- Help and advice regarding both the legal and ecological integrity of the property should it be required

- The opportunity to talk about the invaluable work undertaken to protect important wildlife habitats through feature pages on our website and in our regularWildlife Landsnewsletter

- Wildlife Land Trust signs to erect on your property

The program is completely voluntary and there are absolutely no costs or legal obligations involved - becoming a member of the WLT will effectively complement any current arrangements landowners already have on their properties, legal or otherwise.

The Directors of HSI Australia and the Wildlife Land Trust invite you to join us in the vital mission to create a global sanctuary system based on the principle of humane stewardship.

If you have any questions about the WLT program not covered by the information on the website, please feel free to call Evan Quartermain on 1800 333 737 or email him at evan@hsi.org.au.

The importance of private land conservation

Australia is fortunate to have one of the richest assemblages of endemic species on the planet, occupying an amazing diversity of habitats. Yet currently only 11.5% of the Australian landmass has some form of security as a protected area, and as a result we have one of the worst records for mammal extinctions and near extinctions of any developed country.

Protecting and preserving our habitats and ecosystems is essential to the survival of all wildlife, and every acre left unexploited safeguards native animals that desperately need our help to survive.The role of private lands has now become an integral part of the solution, and private landholders with a concern for wildlife and habitat protection are in the unique and important position to make a very real contribution to conservation efforts across the country.Working under the guiding principle of humane stewardship, the Wildlife Land Trust network of national and international sanctuaries on private lands is dedicated to wildlife and habitat protection.