The State Government claims primary producers in regional Victoria could gain access to new income sources and their land could become more productive into the future under the $105 million plan.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings, said 'Securing Our Natural Future' – a white paper for land and biodiversity at a time of climate change – was aimed at providing regional communities the tools they need to stay economically strong in the face of climate change.

He said the Victorian Government would build on existing market-based programs such as EcoTender and BushTender, which provide incentives to farmers to improve land health.

The Government will increase funding to market based programs by an additional $1.5 million.

“With studies showing Australian farmers could reap an extra $3 billion from new ecological services markets – including carbon markets – we need to ensure our primary producers are ready to get their share of this opportunity,” Mr Jennings said.

“A program to support land-holders package environmental goods and services will be developed, along with an on-farm advisory service to improve landholder capacity to access developing ecosystem markets.”

The white paper outlines a framework that will build ecosystem resilience across Victoria, target investment and resources to priority areas, and improve ecological connectivity through a network of biolinks.

Some 13 priority flagship areas have been identified.

They are: Megga Murray, Mallee, South West, Greater Grampians, Goldfields, Western Volcanic Plains, Otways, Western Port, Central Highlands, Wilsons Promontory, Victorian Alps, Gippsland Lakes and Far East Gippsland.

Investment and resources will be targeted to protecting these areas and to the creation of biolinks from Melbourne to the Grampians, from the Mallee to the Wimmera connecting Sunset Country to the Big and Little Deserts, from the Murray River to the Alps and from Gippsland Lakes to Wilsons Promontory.