Funding opportunities

On-going Australian Government NRM funding opportunities

Natural Heritage Trust

This is the last year of the current Natural Heritage Trust 2 funding arrangements. A process for allocating unallocated NSW Natural Heritage Trust and National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality funds is underway.

Australian Government Envirofund

Envirofund is the local action component of the Natural Heritage Trust. It supports on-ground and other actions to target local problems. Individuals, incorporated community groups and sponsored unincorporated community groups can apply for grants of up to $50,000 to carry out small-scale projects aimed at conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable resource use. State/Territory and local governments are not eligible to apply for funding from this source. This component is aimed in particular at groups that have had little or no previous engagement with the Trust.

The next round of applications (Round 9) is will open for applications in February 2007. A registration form for receiving a copy of the guide and application form when it becomes available is on the Web at http://hermes.erin.gov.au/ciurf/env9/include/index.shtml

Questions about the Envirofund can be directed to the Envirofund Hotline on 1800 303 863 or email envirofund@daff.gov.au.

Guidance on planning a project and preparing an application is available at http://www.nht.gov.au/envirofund/preparing.html

If the project includes fencing activities, a Fencing Management Agreement may need to be signed - further information is at http://www.nht.gov.au/envirofund/fencing.html

Regional Investments

Regional investments are the principal delivery mechanism for the Trust, with the majority of NHT and NAP funds being directed to regions for the implementation of accredited regional natural resource management plans, incorporating the major natural resource management issues in the areas they cover. These regional plans guide the development of actions to address regional issues and prioritise the most important issues for action and funding. Once a region's natural resource management plan has been accredited by the Australian and relevant State/Territory governments, the regional catchment body develops a regional investment strategy detailing what funds are needed to implement the plan. The Australian and State/Territory governments then jointly agree on activities that are to be given funding at the regional level and which meet the main objectives of the NHT. The Australian Government's contributions are in cash, and are required to be matched by either a cash or an in-kind contribution from the relevant State or Territory. Regional bodies are encouraged to pursue other sources of funding also to implement their Regional Investment Strategies and Regional Plans.

National Investments

Investment at this level is to cover national priorities, addressing activities that have a national or broad-scale, rather than a regional or local, outcome. This includes Commonwealth only activities, statewide activities and those that cross state, territory and regional boundaries. It is also to address matters of direct Commonwealth jurisdiction, such as those relating to Commonwealth waters.

Investments at this level cover activities such as resource assessment, research, industry strategies, innovative approaches to managing natural resource management issues such as weeds, marine species and protected areas, reserve acquisitions, training and information, and national coordination/facilitation.

In general, priorities for funding from the national delivery components of the NHT are determined by the Australian Government, without calls for funding applications from the public. Proposals for statewide funding are made by state and Australian governments.

National Competitive Component

The National Competitive Component is intended to support new, innovative and pilot projects that will lead to significant improvements in the sustainable management of natural resources and will most effectively improve regional NRM delivery. Preference for projects funded under the National Competitive Component is given to applications where there is a clear and demonstrated contribution to improving the health of Australia's natural resources and/or to develop tools for effective decision-making. Preference is given to applications which contribute to one or more of the five major investment themes set out in the Assessment and Eligibility Criteria:

  1. Generating and applying better science and/or methodologies to achieving NRM regional targets
  2. Knowledge brokering to meet national NRM requirements
  3. Providing better decision making tools for NRM at the regional level
  4. Increasing community involvement in implementing sustainable NRM
  5. Developing tools and systems to enable NRM bodies to convey NRM data and outcomes to governments to enhance decision making.

Preference is also given to projects that can utilize existing data developed and available from existing sources (e.g. National Land & Water Resources Audit).

Eligible applicants must be incorporated organisations and may be:

  • Private sector research organisations;
  • non-government organisations specialising in the environmental field;
  • community groups and industry bodies;
  • Universities; and
  • Cooperative Research Centres.

Consortia of related organisations are encouraged to apply. However, the following bodies are not eligible to apply independently or as the lead body in a consortium of applicants:

  • Regional NRM bodies;
  • State and Local Government organisations;
  • Australian and State Government Departments; and
  • Australian and State Government directly controlled research organisations (e.g. CSIRO, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Australian Institute of Marine Science and Research and Development Corporations).

The following types of projects will not qualify for funding:

  • Proposals involving devolved grants
  • Proposals for research and development projects of a general nature which do not address specific NRM issues;
  • Projects that can be funded through other Trust/NAP programs such as the Envirofund or the Regional Component; and
  • Projects involving co-ordinator or facilitator type arrangements.

Note: This does not preclude projects that include a co-ordination and facilitation component directed at linking national activities to regional activities and/or which involve capacity building and knowledge broking.

Activities under the National Competitive Component must be consistent with the Trust decision making and investment principles which form part of the Strategic Plan for National Investment under the Natural Heritage Trust.

Regional Competitive Component

The NHT Regional Competitive Component is intended to support higher-cost, larger scale, multi-regional or cross-jurisdictional, multi-year projects that will lead to significant improvements in the sustainable management of natural resources.

Defeating the Weed Menace Program

The Australian Government has committed $40 million over 4 years, from 2004-05, for national action on Australia's most threatening weeds under this program. The program is intended to identify Australia's most threatening weeds and implement measures for management including strategic on-ground control and eradication at regional level, awareness raising, and research into cost effective management techniques and biocontrols for key target weeds.

Scope includes strategic on-ground control and eradication at a regional level, research into cost effective management techniques and bio-controls for key target weeds, and awareness raising campaigns. Focus is on strategic projects that deal with national priority weeds, including WoNS, 'National Environmental Alert List' and priority sleeper weeds. Cross-regional projects should: be strategic, for example, prevent the spread of weeds through catchments, or remove 'outlier' weed areas; deal with national priority weeds; result in sustained benefits across a number of NRM regions; be consistent with regional plans and investment strategies approved under the NHT; address causes rather than symptoms; and consider on-going arrangements to ensure weed problems do not recur; also projects that have a national focus and national application (e.g. biological control).

Comments: About $5 million funds remain for this program. There may be a call for applications for funding next year. The focus will be on cross-regional and national projects.

Indigenous Heritage

The Indigenous Heritage Program supports projects that identify, conserve and promote the Indigenous heritage values of places that are important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Funding of between $5,000 (for individuals) and $100,000 (for organisations) is available for on-ground protection and conservation of Indigenous heritage.

Applications for funding for 2006-2007 closed in February 2006 - applications do not yet appear to have been called for funding for 2007-2008, but presumably will have a similar timeframe.

To be eligible, a project must relate to one or more of the following activities:

  1. Conservation of a place(s) which is of Indigenous significance to a community
  2. Identification of an Indigenous place(s), and/or the Indigenous heritage values of a place, for heritage protection, heritage listing or conservation planning
  3. Heritage Planning, including projects which will develop plans to assist with the conservation and/or promotion of the Indigenous heritage values of a place/s.
  4. Small-scale heritage related business activities, including projects that contain activities that relate to the promotion of the Indigenous cultural heritage and natural values of a place(s)
  5. Sharing Australia's Indigenous Heritage, including projects that interpret or explain a significant Indigenous heritage place(s) to promote the knowledge and understanding of Indigenous heritage, or facilitate the active teaching of traditional knowledge and understanding of customary responsibilities (where appropriate), to future generations and
  6. Construction of Keeping Places: A maximum of $30,000 may be provided for small-scale keeping places to house remains and objects that require restricted access, where exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.

Applicants must be:

  • a legally incorporated Indigenous organisation; or
  • a not-for-profit body that is legally incorporated in Australia; or
  • a Traditional Owner of the subject Indigenous heritage place, or an individual (who is an Australian citizen) acting on behalf of the Traditional Owners with their approval; or
  • a local government authority (LGA's normal responsibilities are not eligible).

The Australian Government wishes to assist Indigenous community groups through the program. Applications relating to places controlled by State or Territory departments, agencies or authorities (including educational institutions) will only be considered where appropriate support from relevant Indigenous community groups can be demonstrated and the place in question is not owned, used or already funded by the State/Territory.

Environmental Education Grants Program

The Environmental Education Grants Program funds activities which support the Australian Government's objective of improving the community's capacity to protect the environment.

Grants are intended to complement the Environment and Heritage Portfolio's environmental education activities, particularly the objectives of the National Action Plan for Environmental Education. In keeping with the National Action Plan for Environmental Education and to promote a coherent approach, an important consideration in assessing proposals is the impact funding will have in acting as a catalyst for national change

Funded activities should perform at least one (preferably more) of the key components of environmental education in support of ecological sustainability:

  • raising awareness
  • acquiring new perspectives
  • developing knowledge, values and skills and
  • changing behaviour.

The main funding round for the 2005-2006 grants closed in January 2006. Information on the Environmental Education Grants Program for 2006-2007 will be posted on the website later this year.

Maintaining Australia's Biodiversity Hotspots Program

The Hotspots Program seeks to take a cost-effective, proactive approach to managing threats in high conservation value areas that are still relatively intact and maintaining their biodiversity values. Managing the threats effectively requires taking a whole of landscape approach, across all tenures, to promote active, ongoing conservation management. The Hotspots Program aims to improve the conservation of biodiversity hotspots (as identified by the TSSC) on private and leasehold land by enhancing active conservation management and protection of existing terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems as habitat for native plants and animals.

So far, the program has invested $12 million of funding in a range of initiatives. Over the next two years the program will deliver a further $21 million in projects across Australia. The program has two delivery components: stewardship payments for on-ground biodiversity improvements, and voluntary property acquisitions.

The stewardship payments offer direct financial support to land-holders to help them protect existing natural habitats with high conservation values. The payments will provide support to those land mangers that have already made a commitment to maintaining the biodiversity values of their properties. Payments will only be available for actions ('environmental services') that are above and beyond a land-holders' existing regulatory responsibilities or management obligations, such as industry codes of practice. These actions may include such things as: control of animals, weed control in remnant native vegetation, protection of wetlands, exclusion of stock, reduced stocking rates, and/or fire management.

The focus for acquisitions will be on large (generally in excess of 1,000 hectares) properties with outstanding biodiversity values in areas where there is high level of species endemism and original ecosystems and species composition have not been markedly altered, the natural habitat and native species are under threat, and reservation is the most appropriate way to remove or reduce these threats. In general, the program will provide up to 66% of the purchase price for land acquisitions. However, applicants who are able to leverage greater philanthropic input from the private sector and therefore apply for less than 66% of the purchase price will be considered favourably. Funding will be provided to registered charitable organisations on condition they manage the properties for conservation in perpetuity and can demonstrate organisational capacity and prior extensive property acquisition and management experience.

Applications will be assessed based on value for money. Therefore, landholders who are willing to contribute to the costs of conservation actions are likely to be most competitive in the stewardship tender process. Likewise, acquisition proposals that leverage significant funding from outside sources will be more competitive than those that require the funding up to the limit set out in the program guidelines.

The program will be delivered by organisations or consortia acting as national delivery agents. The Department is establishing a panel of such organisations through a competitive tender process. Organisations submitting tenders need to demonstrate relevant expertise and a proven track record in (1) property acquisition and management for conservation and (2) the delivery of market based incentive projects.

Funding to landholders will be directed through the national delivery agents. The delivery agents will be responsible for finding and developing investment opportunities that meet the program guidelines. The agents will be called on to identify areas and projects for investment, according to the program guidelines. When the proposals are agreed, the national delivery agents will call for expressions of interest from landholders in the targeted areas to participate in the activities proposed.

The national delivery agents will identify hotspots for investment using criteria that focus on areas:

  • that are largely intact and where native species and communities associated with these ecosystems are well represented;
  • with a high diversity of locally endemic species, not found or are rarely found outside the hotspot; and
  • that are at risk the current, planned or potential management activities in the area place the natural values at risk, and it is likely this risk will increase in the future in the absence of active conservation management.

DEH will compare between the national delivery agent proposals to assess cost-effectiveness of investment in the regions and projects proposed.

Comments: Tenders for panelled national delivery agents closed in September 2006.

Threatened Species Network Community Grants

The Threatened Species Network is a community-based program of the NHT and WWF Australia, established to support communities to conduct on-ground work for the health of the natural environment, specifically targeting the needs of nationally threatened species and ecological communities.

Grants are provided for activities such as:

  • Habitat restoration
  • Weeding and feral animal control
  • Monitoring and surveying species populations
  • Fencing
  • Fire management

Round 10 of the TSN Community Grants Program is expected to open in April 2007.

Incorporated community-based organisations may apply for funding. In some instances applications may be accepted from unincorporated community groups, where a local or State government agency or incorporated regional natural resource management body will undertake responsibility for financial administration of the project.

Applications from community groups working in partnership with State government agencies, local government, regional natural resource management bodies, schools or universities are encouraged, but these organisations are not eligible to apply for funding in their own right.

In order to be considered for funding, projects must meet the following criteria:

  • The proposed actions must benefit species or ecological communities that are listed as threatened under the EPBC Act.
  • The proposed actions must be consistent with any Action or Recovery Plan for the species or ecological community, or relevant Threat Abatement Plan. Where there is no Action or Recovery Plan for the species or ecological community, the applicant must provide justification that the proposed activities are priority actions for the protection or recovery of the species or ecological community.
  • Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to ongoing conservation activity.
  • Applicants are encouraged to incorporate monitoring of their target species or community as part of their project activities, and to provide details of how monitoring will be continued after the completion of the initial grant-funded project.
  • Preference will be given to projects that establish or strengthen existing partnerships between industry, local or State government agencies, educational institutions, community groups, and landholders.
  • On-ground projects must be site specific and not necessarily cover the entire range of the species or ecological community. Projects may involve multiple sites but a good proportion of these sites must be identified prior to submitting an application.
  • Applicants are expected to make a substantial contribution to the total cost of the project. Matching contributions can be financial contributions or in-kind support see Section 6 for more details.

Funding limits or conditions apply to a range of project components, including project coordination/management; expert, including Indigenous advice; independent contractors; administration and auditing; fencing; revegetation; weed and feral animal control; purchase of non-capital equipment; research; survey/Population monitoring; capacity building.

Projects need to be completed within 18 months.

Up to $500,000 will be distributed nationally to a range of projects, with a maximum of $50,000 for individual projects. The value of the applicant's and partner's financial and in kind contributions should match or exceed the grant funds being sought.

Australian Biological Resources Study

The Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) Grants Program is aimed at supporting the documentation of Australia's biological diversity, and improving and increasing the national taxonomic (scientific classification) effort.

The program recognises two types of grants:

  1. Research Project Grants for which the primary aim is to undertake systematic research on the Australian Biota;
  2. Biodiversity Information Product Grants for the development or design of a discrete product that aids in the dissemination of taxonomic information to the wider community. The products can be in the form of published or on-line interactive keys, development of databases such as completing a section of the Australian Faunal Directory, completion of ABRS publications such as the Flora of Australia, field-guides, and any other value-added product that facilitates the easy dissemination of taxonomic information.

Applications are called for in a national newspaper advertisement, on the ABRS web site and in the ABRS newsletter Biologue published in October. The closing date for applications for grants to be awarded in the following financial year is 10 November.

Projects submitted for funding in 2006/2007 should aim to address one or more of the following criteria, and relate these to the goals of one of the National Research Priorities (an environmentally sustainable Australia; promoting and maintaining good health; frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries; and safeguarding Australia):

  • Documentation of Australia's biological diversity with particular emphasis on systemics research of lesser-known groups, including microorganisms.
  • Rigorous taxonomic treatment mainly at species level.
  • Contribution to regional or continental generic or higher-level systematics research.
  • Groups of high conservation value.
  • Groups of economic, health and/or social benefit.
  • Innovative approaches for dealing with complex systematics problems.

Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations

The Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations (GVEHO) Program helps eligible community based environment and heritage organisations to value, conserve and protect Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage by assisting with their administrative costs.

Funds provided through the GVEHO Program may be used to assist with salaries and salary on-costs for staff; office accommodation rental; electricity, gas, phone and other similar charges; essential office supplies and equipment; staff and volunteer training; photocopying and printing costs; and travel costs incurred on behalf of the organisation.

Comments: This won't help directly with funding particular projects, but could help support voluntary NGOs in the region that might be engaged to undertake projects.

Community Water Grants

The Australian Government's Community Water Grants program offers grants to help local community organisations save, recycle or improve the health of their local water resources.

Grants are available for projects related to:

  • water saving and efficiency
  • water recycling
  • water treatment - improving surface and groundwater health.

Community Water Grants is one of the three national programs in the $2 billion Australian Government Water Fund, and will provide a total of $200 million over five years to help communities play a positive role in managing Australia's water resources. The grants encourage better water use and will improve water health through practical on-the-ground projects.

The numbers so far:

Community Water Grants received 4,532 applications for Round 2 funding and approved 1,444 projects totalling $61.7 million (announced 27 November 2006). Funding of up to $50,000 was approved for 1,402 projects and funding of between $100,000 and $250,000 was approved for 42 projects.

As a result of Round 2 projects, communities across Australia will save a total of 9,518 mega litres of water a year and improve the health of water from a combined catchment area of 1.5 million hectares. Volunteers will contribute 560,000 hours to ensure the success of their projects and communities have raised $56.8 million in cash and in-kind contributions to their projects. Round 2 projects will improve facilities used by 1.25 million people.

Round 1 funding of $61 million was approved in March 2006 and of 1,676 funded projects, a total of 1,281 projects are currently underway (76 per cent) and 298 projects have already been completed (18 per cent).

The results that local governments, schools, sporting clubs and other community organisations are achieving with grants prove community-based projects make a real difference to the way water is used.

Round 3: We expect Round 3 to open for applications in early to mid-2007. Subscribe for information on Round 3 as it becomes available.

National Landcare Program Community Support Component

Investing in Community Projects

Community Support funds local and regional landcare activities consistent with priorities in accredited, regional NRM plans and investment strategies.

It complements the Natural Heritage Trust and National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and funds community projects. These can include measures to combine production and conservation on farms, improve the skills of NRM managers, promote best management practice and better integrate natural resource management into business and property plans.

How are projects identified?

Identification of priority projects for Landcare funding will be managed through the natural resource management regional process.

Community and industry group involvement in landcare is crucial to achieving better management of our natural resources. Consequently, groups from across Australia are eligible to develop and submit proposals for local landcare activities.

2007-08 Round

Download guidelines for the 2007-08 round.

Before submitting your application, it is important that you discuss your proposal with your relevant State Landcare Coordinator.

If you are already receiving Community Support funding for a continuing project, the Department will contact you separately.

Applications must be submitted to regional NRM organisations and received by COB 26 February 2007.

GreenCorps

Community organisations with an interest in youth development or natural resource management and heritage are encouraged to become a Partner Agency with Green Corps. Projects are community-based, with 75 per cent located in regional and remote areas of Australia.

Each project must have an environmental and/or cultural heritage focus; provide youth development opportunities to the Green Corps participants; and facilitate linkages between the participants and their local community.

Projects must be consistent with the environmental and heritage policies of the Australian Government and must use best practice principles.

What you need to provide

Each Green Corps project delivers the 26-week project in partnership with a Green Corps service provider. Partner agencies need to provide:

  • a structured program to keep participants busy for 26 weeks
  • opportunities for team members to build a range of skills and a sense of achievement once the project is complete
  • technical support
  • project materials and resources
  • mentors and support from the community and help for participants in connecting with employment opportunities and the community
More information

Your first point of contact is a Green Corps Service Provider in your local state/territory office. Initially, you should submit a project Expression of Interest form. The Green Corps Service Provider will then work with you to develop your project proposal to host a Green Corps activity.

For further information please see the Guidance for Potential Partner Agencies document.

Further information

Information about grants and funding, guides for applicants and application forms are available online at: www.deh.gov.au/programs/index.html.

Information relating to grants is also available through:

  • Community Information Unit
  • Department of the Environment and Heritage
  • GPO Box 787
  • CANBERRA ACT 2601
  • Email: ciu@deh.gov.au
  • Telephone: 1800 803 772
  • Web site: www.deh.gov.au

 
Page last updated: 23 January 2007