Victoria’s Department of Sustainability the Environment (DSE) has opened the first round of the $20 million Communities for Nature Grants.

 

The grant program will allocate the $20 million over four years and will be managed by the DSE to achieve the following outcomes:

 

  • Support practical community action in the environment
  • Create visible and lasting improvement
  • Foster greater enjoyment of the natural environment
  • Strengthen partnerships and participation by equipping communities with the ability, skills and knowledge to take action safely and with the capacity to optimise resources

 

The grants are competitive and targeted towards local community groups and organisations, and are for projects focused on:

  • Biodiversity and habitat preservation
  • Threatened species recovery
  • Sustainable management of native wildlife
  • Revegetation
  • Cleaning up waterways
  • Control of weeds and pest animals

 

The grants are divided into two streams of funding:

  • Small grants, for applicants seeking up to $10,000
  • Large grants, for applicants seeking between $10,000 and $150,000

 

Up to $4 million is available in the first round for projects assessed as meeting the criteria. 

 

More information can be found on the DSE website here