Threatened Species Protection Initiative – Community Volunteer Action Grants

Up to $20,000 is available for small-scale, local threatened species projects projects that build community connections to the local environment.

Overview

The Community Volunteer Action Grants is a program that supports small-scale threatened species projects on public and private land that strengthen community connections to the local environment.

Objective

The Community Volunteer Action Grantsaimed at improving habitat and the security of sites for threatened species and engagement of volunteers in threatened species projects.

Funds will be directed towards voluntary efforts to protect and restore threatened species habitat (such as native vegetation planting and control of pest plants and pest animals) as well as engagement activities that increase the understanding of threatened species (such as participation and training of volunteers in bird counts and monitoring of plant and animal populations for conservation and recovery purposes).

Funding

Eligible community groups can apply for a grant for an amount between $2,000 and $20,000.

Eligible Projects

Eligible activities can include:

• Native fauna and flora habitat protection such as fencing to exclude threats
• Restoration of habitat through removal of rubbish or the planting of indigenous vegetation, building of threatened species nest boxes
• Humane and legal pest animal control activities
• Environmental weed control using targeted hand weeding or other low impact means
• Volunteer engagement and educational activities such as participation and training in bird counts and monitoring of plant and animal populations for conservation and threatened species recovery programs

Project budget items can include:

• Purchase of materials to complete the project, such as:
  • Fencing
  • Native plants and seeds (locally indigenous species only)
  • Mulch
• Purchase of equipment and capital items to a maximum of $1000, such as specialist equipment needed to complete the project, for example, motion sensor cameras for monitoring of threatened species
• Hire of equipment such as direct seeding machine for revegetation activities, post hole digger for fencing
• Contractor fees* for specialist work by qualified contractors required prior to voluntary activities being able to be completed
• Rubbish removal (if necessary prior to site restoration)
• Project coordination* (at no more than 20% of the project budget)
• Educational signage on threatened species to a maximum of $1000
• Training of volunteers

Applicants will need to demonstrate how project coordination, and/or contractor costs are essential to facilitate the on-ground works component of the project and in the case of contractors, is for work that your group is unable to carry out and is required before voluntary effort can be applied.

Eligible Applicants

Volunteer based, not for profit local community and indigenous groups engaged in threatened species conservation or habitat protection and restoration projects are encouraged to apply.

For example:

• Local Landcare, Bushcare, Coastcare, Rivercare, Parkcare and Friends of groups
• Conservation Management Networks
• Naturalist groups
• Volunteer Committees of Management
• Indigenous Associations and Aboriginal groups

Other volunteer based community groups may also be considered if they are involved in local threatened species projects.

Groups must hold insurance to cover volunteer action and must also be incorporated or will need to seek a sponsor organisation that can support their application and enter into a contract with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

Timing

Applications for Round 2 close 20 April 2016.

Media Release

Applications are now open for a second round of grants for community groups and environmental organisations under the Andrews Labor Government’s Threatened Species Protection Initiative.

A broad range of groups  and organisations can apply for a share of $800,000 in Community Volunteer Action Grants for small-scale, local threatened species projects.

A further $168,000 is available for crowd funding opportunities that will see community groups raising funds to help protect threatened species receiving dollar-for-dollar backing from the Government.

The funding is part of $5.2 million in grants programs under the Threatened Species Protection Initiative announced by the Government in August 2015 to support action on threatened species and habitat protection.

Groups eligible for Community Volunteer Action Grants and the crowdfunding pilot include environment, recreational and service groups, schools, senior citizen and youth groups and not-for-profit organisations and networks.

Grants provided under the first round have been used to help a range of threatened species including the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Mountain Pygmy-possum, Brush-tailed Phascogale, Baw Baw Frog, Helmeted Honeyeater, Hooded Plover, Forest Redgum Grassy Woodland community and multiple native orchid species.

For more information or to apply for a grant, visit www.delwp.vic.gov.au/tspi

Community Volunteer Action Grants Round 1 Recipients

Click here to view the complete list of recipients.