Community lifeline to save native species

27 July 2023

The Albanese Labor Government is investing $20 million in community grants to better protect threatened animals and plants.

The new funding is targeted at native species like the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby and the Pygmy Blue-tongue Lizard that most need our help.

The program will provide grants of between $20,000 to $500,000 to local councils, environment groups, First Nations organisations and other groups to help recover populations of 110 threatened plants and animals prioritised in the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan.

Eligible projects will include activities that will:

  • protect or restore the habitat for a species
  • support control of feral and invasive species like feral cats and foxes
  • protect plant species including by seed collection, growing new plants and translocation
  • implement an appropriate fire management strategy.

Many of these projects will also benefit other threatened species that share the same habitat.

This funding is just one part of the Albanese Labor Government’s $224.5 million Saving Native Species program to better protect our precious native plants, animals and ecological communities.

More information about the Saving Native Species grants (priority species) is available here: Saving Native Species - DCCEEW
 
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP:

“Labor has committed to a goal of no new extinctions. This funding is about delivering on that commitment, protecting our precious native species, and repairing the places they call home.

“We know there are groups on the ground doing this work right across Australia who understand the challenges in their community. We want to support them to look after their local environment.

“That’s why the Albanese Labor Government is investing $20 million for projects that help our threatened species and repair the places they call home.

“This is just one part of our $224.5 million in our Saving Native Species Program to repair more of what’s damaged and protect what’s precious.”