The NSW Environmental Trust's Protecting our Places (POP) grants program opens for applications today, with $500,000 on offer for Aboriginal communities looking to restore culturally significant landscapes and waterways.
NSW Department of Planning and Environment Aboriginal Program Manager Shannon Whyte said the long-running grants program acknowledges the vital cultural and spiritual connection Aboriginal people have with their traditional lands and waters.
"Aboriginal communities work and live on Country and have unique knowledge to inform good environmental outcomes in their local areas," said Ms Whyte.
"The aim of the POP grants program is to increase the amount of Aboriginal land protected, restored, and managed by local Aboriginal groups, land managers and stakeholders.
"Through these grants, Aboriginal groups and corporations are supported to undertake projects that contribute to ongoing sustainable management of significant cultural landscapes in New South Wales.
"Successful grantees will receive up to $80,000 in funding, as well as access to capacity building workshops, mentoring and project management advice throughout the life of their project," said Ms Whyte.
Funding is available for a wide range of on-ground environmental restoration activities, including bush regeneration, weed management and revegetation, ecological and Cultural burning, and pest animal management.
A total of $500,000 is available for the 2023 round of the program. Applications are open until 5 pm Friday 24 March 2023.
Organisations eligible for funding include:
- NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs)
- NSW Aboriginal Corporations
- NSW Incorporated Associations
- Non-distributing NSW Co-operatives
- NSW Registered Native Title Body Corporates.
The POP program was established in 2002. Over the past 20 years, more than $8,918,845 has been provided to fund 240 Aboriginal community-led environmental projects across New South Wales.
