The Department of Environment and Science is to offer financial grants of up to $25,000 for community organisations who deliver projects aimed at protecting threatened animals and plants.
Minister for the Environment, Meaghan Scanlon said local Landcare groups, Natural Resource Management groups, First Nations organisations, non-Government organisations and universities were eligible to apply.
“Queensland is home to thousands of native fauna and flora — they are a big part of our great lifestyle — so we need to protect those particularly vulnerable species,” Ms Scanlon said.
“Funding is on the table for things like habitat restoration, surveys and mapping, and education programs that will drive real change for our threatened species.”
She said Queensland was recognised internationally for its enormous global biodiversity, being home to thousands of species of national and global significance.
“This includes around 85 per cent of Australia’s mammals, 72 per cent of native birds, and more than 50 per cent of native reptiles and frogs,” the Minister said.
“Funding will be provided for species listed as ‘threatened’ in the Commonwealth Government’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or the Queensland Government’s Nature Conservation Act 1992.”
She said the funding was part of the Government’s broader Community Sustainability Action Grants, which had given more than 526 projects $21.2 million in funding since they began in 2016.
“The grant program provides vital funding to eligible organisations for innovative solutions that aim to address climate change, protect our unique wildlife and conserve our natural and built environment,” Ms Scanlon said.
“These projects have protected our important heritage buildings, prevented tonnes of rubbish entering the environment, provided protection for our threatened species and will help us reach zero net emissions by 2050.”
