Thousands for habitat projects

Wimmera and Mallee organisations have been awarded grants worth thousands of dollars to help protect, improve and expand habitats for Victoria’s native plants and animals.

Rainbow and District Landcare Group has picked up $50,000 to protect buloke wetlands in the southern Mallee; Barengi Gadjin Land Council will use a $40,000 grant towards increasing diversity in Wail State Forest; Hindmarsh Landcare Network has received $33,100 for community planting of threatened flora; and Kara Kara Conservation Management Network will use $46,915 to improve habitat for threatened and declining flora and fauna in the western goldfields.

Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said 11 projects in her part of the state would receive more than $430,000 as part of the government’s Biodiversity On-ground Action Program.

She said the grants would enable conservation groups in western Victoria to address threats and safeguard biodiversity.

“Many within the community are already hard at work helping protect and preserve local native flora and fauna,” Ms Pulford said.

“In the past year many dedicated community groups across western Victoria have helped to reduce threats and improve the survival of threatened species.

“Our government is committed to biodiversity and encourages Victorians to learn more and participate in their local community.”

Grants of up $50,000 each have been allocated to 110 projects approved across Victoria.

People can visit https://www.environment. vic.gov.au/biodiversity/biodiversity-on-groundaction for more information about the program.

“In the past many dedicated community groups across western Victoria have helped to reduce threats and improve the survival of threatened species” – Jaala Pulford