The State Government is investing $55,212 into restoring and protecting East Gippsland’s natural environment.

Member for Eastern Victoria, Jane Garrett, congratulated the successful recipients of the 2019-20 Victorian Landcare Grants.

The annual grants program delivers critical funding to Landcare and other environmental volunteer groups who make significant contributions to caring for the environment through on-ground works, education and capacity building projects.

This year’ s grants program is supporting four Landcare and environmental projects across the Gippsland region with an additional $1.0 million provided due to the exceptionally high number of quality applications received across the environmental volunteering sector.

Projects that will receive funding in the 2019-20 round include:

• $8600 for Friends of the Upper Nicholson Catchment Inc (FUNCi) to provide additional nest boxes for the hollow-dependent fauna of the area where hollows are absent or in short supply;
• $8000 for Swifts Creek Ensay Landcare Group to address and improve the coordination, knowledge and delivery of management programs into new and emerging weeds in the Upper Tambo River Catchment;
• $18,612 for East Gippsland Landcare Network Inc to trial six types of guards and collect information on their success in protecting revegetation seedlings against deer and rabbits.

“I would like to congratulate the grant recipients, because it is projects like these that make a significant contribution to both the environment and the economy,” Ms Garrett said.

“It’ s great to see the Victorian Government invest in Landcare in the Gippsland region so that local communities can enjoy our precious natural environment for years to come.”

Over the past four years, the State Government has provided more than $149 million to protect Victoria’ s biodiversity, supporting native and threatened species through a range of on-ground initiatives and funding.

The funding focuses on protecting and managing a range of native plants and animals, threatened species and habitats through collaborative planning, increased engagement and alignment of natural resources, scientific, educational and community sectors.

Landcare is a key component of the Victorian Government’ s plan Protecting Victoria’ s Environment Biodiversity 2037, which sets out the strategy to stop the decline of native plants and animals and ensure the environment is healthy, valued and cared for.

This year’s grants program is supporting 208 Landcare and environmental projects across Victoria’ s 10 Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs).

Landcare grants are delivered in partnership with the catchment management authorities, demonstrating the positive environmental outcomes that can be achieved when environment groups, local communities and the government work together.