The Andrews Labor Government is protecting Victoria’s threatened species and boosting private investment in the state’s precious biodiversity.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today announced $10 million for the Labor Government’s Nature Fund, to match biodiversity projects proposed by private or philanthropic groups.

The Nature Fund will be used to support high-impact projects to top up investment from non-government organisations, including market-led proposals that can be delivered through partnerships between public and private organisations.

There are already more than 72,000 hectares of private land designated for conservation across Victoria. This will ensure funds are readily available to respond to new conservation opportunities and to environmental threats.

This investment will help to deliver on the goals of Biodiversity 2037, the Government’s plan to stop the decline of native plants and animals and improve the state’s natural environment.

A Caring for Country stream of $1.4 million is included in the Nature Fund to support biodiversity actions led by Traditional Owners.

On top of this, the Government is investing $2.8 million to Trust for Nature to protect important habitat on private land through voluntary conservation covenants signed with private landowners, as part of the Iconic Estates Program.

Protecting habitat on private land will improve resilience for threatened species on our public land, creating buffers zones and corridors to allow species more space to move and adapt to climate change.

Additionally, six large-scale conservation projects to reduce the impact of pests, predators and invasive weeds at key locations across Victoria have received a further $7.35 million, to protect and enhance habitat for native and threatened species.

The projects will focus on the northwest, Grampians, Otways and far East Gippsland and will benefit a range of threatened species such as the Smoky Mouse, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Growling Grass Frog, Elegant Spider-orchid, Australasian Bittern and White-browed Treecreeper and many more.

The Government has invested $560 million in protecting biodiversity since 2014 and recently appointed Victoria’s first Chief Biodiversity Officer, James Todd.

More information about applying for the Nature Fund: https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/biodiversity/

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“This $10 million fund will enable us to respond quickly to emerging threats or opportunities, working with private investors to double the impact of our biodiversity protection work.”

“We all need to work together to protect Victoria’s most threatened species and ensure they have a bright future in our changing climate.”