Meeting papers

9. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Every LfW property is visited by a skilled council LfW Officer to assess its eligibility into the LfWSEQ
program. Four criteria are considered:

    •   Habitat Size
    •   Habitat Type
    •   Landholder Willingness
    •   Other Considerations


9.1 Habitat Size
Regardless of eligible property type, there is a minimum size of wildlife habitat required on a
property to be eligible for membership into LfWSEQ. Each Local Government sets its own criteria
depending on if the property is assessed to be Registered or Working Towards Registration (Section
10).

9.2 Habitat Type
Two types of wildlife habitat are referred to in LfWSEQ: Retained Habitat and Habitat Under
Restoration.

Both habitat types describe ecological habitats that provide resources for wildlife such as foraging,
breeding, sheltering and roosting resources. These habitats must be managed in a way that clearly
supports habitat for wildlife. Both habitat types can be comprised of habitats that are either
contiguous or fragmented, but they must occur on the one LfW property.

Entirely degraded lands or human infrastructure provide little, if any, ecological habitats for wildlife
and are therefore not eligible to join LfW. If a landholder has purchased an entirely degraded
property and wants to restore it ecologically, a council LfW Officer may visit and provide advice, but
the property is ineligible to join LfW. Over time, the property may become eligible to join LfW.

All Registered properties must contain a minimum amount (as determined by individual Local
Governments) of Retained Habitat.

All Working Towards Registration properties must contain a minimum amount (as determined by
individual Local Governments) of either Habitat Under Restoration and/or Retained Habitat.

Retained Habitat is, broadly, habitat in good condition that supports a diversity of wildlife. Generally,
Retained Habitat can be described using Regional Ecosystem definitions, but may also include good
quality human-modified or re-established ecosystems such as grasslands, dams and constructed
landscapes. Further definitions and examples are provided overleaf.

Habitat Under Restoration is, broadly, habitat in poor condition that is undergoing restoration, such
as assisted natural regeneration or revegetation, to improve its ecological condition. Habitat Under
Restoration provides some habitat for wildlife but it is not yet ecologically functional. Further
definitions and examples are provided overleaf.

Areas of Retained Habitat and Habitat Under Restoration are mutually exclusive, that is habitat on a
LfW property cannot be both Retained Habitat and Habitat Under Restoration.



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