Working to protect Victoria’s threatened species

VICTORIA’S threatened species are being given the best chance to thrive with the government opening a second round of the Nature Fund which promotes collaboration with private and philanthropic groups.

Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt announced the Nature Fund open at Phillip Island earlier today, with $3.5 million available to restore habitat and protect at-risk native species.

The Nature Fund supports conservation projects that secure co-investment from private groups which leads to collective action for biodiversity.

Since launching in 2022, the Fund has seen $10 million go to 22 projects which have delivered habitat restoration, research and monitoring, wildlife translocations and community engagement.

Projects funded in the first round included expanding a sanctuary area for the critically endangered Southern Brush-Tailed Rock Wallaby, restoring habitat for the endangered Swift Parrot, and supporting the recovery of the critically endangered Spotted Tree Frog and endangered Pookila.

The Nature Fund has also supported projects that advance the self-determination of Victoria’s First Peoples, with $1.9 million allocated via the program’s Caring for Country stream to six projects led by Aboriginal organisations.

To learn more about the Nature Fund and to apply, visit environment.vic.gov.au/nature-fund.