Who We Are
The National Trusts of Australia are community-based, non-government organisations, committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage through its advocacy work and its custodianship of heritage places and objects. The National Trusts of Australia are collaborating to create a national register of significant trees, which is consistent with our mission to protect and celebrate Australia’s heritage.
There are over 2,500 significant tree records compiled over 30 years by the National Trusts across Australia. These records are continually updated by volunteers and loaded into the National Register.
Significant Tree Committees in each state and territory comprise experts in a range of relevant fields including arboriculture, botany, heritage conservation, environmental management. The Committees meet at least three times per year to discuss issues regarding significant trees.
The role of the Significant Tree Committees will be to seek and assess nominations for significant trees against the nationally agreed criteria, and compare the tree to other registered trees of the same species and criteria on the Register. The Significant Tree Committees will resolve the tree’s level of significance, or may reject the nomination if the tree is considered of local or no significance. The Significant Tree Committees will be responsible for maintaining and updating the Register. The Significant Tree Committees will also promote awareness of the cultural value of significant trees, and advocate for statutory protection for registered trees under the relevant local Planning Scheme.
The Significant Tree Committees are open to partnerships with like-minded organisations as a means of strengthening advocacy and celebration of significant trees. Please contact your local National Trust office (http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/contact) if you are interested in becoming involved in the protection and celebration of significant trees in your state or territory.