A community Microforest, woodland restoration at Blue Gum Point, and tracking the movement and behaviour of brown snakes on the urban fringe are just a few community-led proposals that will be funded through the 2022-2023 Environmental Grants Program.
Thirty-two proposals will receive funding to increase biodiversity, protect native flora and fauna, assist with urban cooling and improve the capabilities and capacity of volunteer groups.
“The ACT Environmental Grants program provides opportunities for the community to address environmental issues they are concerned about, restore and conserve natural places that are special to them, and engage with other members of the community to do the same,” Minister for the Environment Rebecca Vassarotti said.
“The proposals selected will deliver a broad range of projects including landscape restoration, rehydrating soils, urban tree planting, threatened species protection, weed control, and citizen science.
“Our community plays an important role in conserving, promoting, and protecting our environment, and the Environmental Grants program empower Canberrans to undertake that environmental stewardship.
“Today is a celebration of the Canberra community’s amazing efforts to care for the environment of the bush capital that we all love.”
Of the 32 successful project proposals there are:
- 18 Environment Grant recipients with a total value of $353,960
- 9 Nature in the City Grant recipients with a total value of $121,267
- 5 Environmental Volunteer Assist Grant recipients with a total value of $25,000
“Now in its 25th year, we expanded and simplified the ACT Environmental Grants Program by reducing the application process significantly, halving the paperwork required with a focus on simplification in language to improve readability,” Minister Vassarotti said.
“In 2022, there was also a funding increase to the Environmental grants program, with an additional $128,000 funding allocated.
“We also heard from the community of the need to improve volunteer groups capabilities and capacity to deliver their important work, which is why for the first time, we are awarding Environmental Volunteer Assist Grants.
“I would like to extend my congratulations to all recipients and thank them for their tireless efforts to enhance our natural spaces for all Canberrans.”
