Landcare Australia
Fire retardant rainforest revegetation and native wildlife feeding just some of the projects receiving support from Landcare Australia's $300,000 bushfire recovery grants
Tuesday 5 May 2020: Landcare Australia have announced more than $300,000 in grants to landcare groups, community groups and land managers undertaking crucial bushfire recovery projects.
Made possible due to the extraordinary volume of donations from generous organisations and private donors, the Landcare Australia Bushfire Recovery Grants will support 23 wide-ranging regeneration projects focusing on activities including impacted rainforest revegetation, nest boxes for decimated native species and feeding programs for endangered wildlife.
"This grants program is supporting farmers, Landcare groups and other community groups to overcome the impacts of the bushfires. Key issues for them include restoration of essential wildlife habitat, eradicating invasive weeds, erosion control and protection of our waterways and aquatic habitat," explained Dr Shane Norrish, CEO Landcare Australia.
Funding came from generous donations during the bushfires from across the country and around the world, including Landcare Australia partners Brambles Chep, Bushman's Tanks, Bloom Aid and Hawkes Brewing.
Dr Norrish added: "I would like to thank everyone for their incredible support. The donations have made it possible for Landcare Australia to support Landcare groups and other community groups to undertake good quality, hands on projects that will greatly increase bushfire recovery efforts in their local communities. Without this type of support, most community groups would struggle with the size of the recovery task."
Landcare groups receiving a grant include:
*Wilson Creek Huonbrook Landcare Inc (NSW - 90 mins from Gold Coast) - helping to repair and restore ancient Gondwana Rainforest in Nightcap and Mount Jerusalem National Parks impacted by Mt Nardi fire. Activities include guide development of fire retardant rainforest vegetation and management of invasive weeds competing with natives species.
*Nana Glen Landcare Group (NSW - 30 mins outside Coffs Harbour) - assisting native species of Nana Glen including goannas, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, pretty faced wallabies, land mullets, water dragons, bearded dragons, sea eagles and Wonga pigeons impacted by Liberation Trail fire with supplementary food and water stations. The group also aim to install 50 habitat nest boxes of various types across 172 hectares of fire-impacted private and public land for animals including cockatoos, small parrots, brushtail and ringtail possums, bats, kingfishers, kookaburras and the Powerful Owl.
*Habitat Recovery Alliance (SA - 50 mins outside Adelaide) - after the December 2019 Cudlee Creek bushfires destroyed over 21,000 hectares, this newly formed alliance of seven dedicated local groups has received nearly 300 new volunteer participants eager to assist in habitat restoration through the seeding and planting of appropriate local native species on multiple private and public properties within the area impacted by the Cudlee Creek fire.
*Cann Valley Landcare Group/Far East Gippsland Landcare Network (VIC - 90 mins outside Bega) - Wangarabell Valley and the Genoa River were severely fire damaged in January 2020 causing vast destruction of forest, habitat, flora and fauna. While proposing restoration works on over 160 hectares, works include rescue of the endangered Genoa River Correa, a plant native to the region which was regenerated in 2012 but now specimens have largely been destroyed. Only one known large plant remains a source for cuttings and replanting.
**Spokespersons from each group are
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