Wednesday 23 January 2013

Community Landcare Grants - Sustainable Agriculture




The Australian Government has launched Community Landcare Grants:

·         Grants between $5,000 and $50,000 are available for local community groups to deliver natural resource management outcomes.

·         The grants come under the Caring for our Country’s new “Sustainable Agriculture” stream (“Sustainable Environment” stream grants coming soon).

·         Applications must address one or more strategic objective:

 

o   Sustainable food production - practices to increase productivity and improve ecosystem services

o   Innovation - Increased trialling of innovative practices

o   Reduced impacts of weeds and pests on agriculture

o   Improved management of the natural resource base

o   Building knowledgeable, skilled and capable landcare communities able to manage their natural environment and productive lands (including through knowledge sharing).

 

·         Applications close on 20 March 2013

·         Successful projects are likely to receive funding in August 2013 and projects should be completed within 18 months

 

Who can apply?

·         Community groups including landcare and professional farming systems, or any other groups with the following:

o   Membership of at least 5 individuals.

o   Groups that can demonstrate that they are working towards a sustainable and resilient agricultural base.

·         New or emerging groups that don’t meet the above requirements must demonstrate that they have broad community support for and/or technical expertise to deliver the project. If they are not a legal entity they must be sponsored by one that can apply on their behalf.

Who isn’t eligible?

·         Any level of government; regional NRM bodies; organisations operating under state legislation (however these organisations are encouraged to support or sponsor an eligible group),

·         individuals; or political lobby groups.

Activities could include:

·         Trials, demonstrations and adoption of practices that improve soil condition and reduce erosion.

·         Fencing of rivers, wetlands and native vegetation to reduce impacts of agriculture of these communities (excludes standard boundary fencing).

·         Weed and pest projects:

o   Addressing issues identified in national strategies,

o   Demonstrating innovative management methods,

o   Eradication of a new or emerging outbreak.

·         Building capacity of community organisations to raise awareness and share learnings

·         Host field days

Budget items may include: materials, equipment hire, labour, advertising, website development, printing / publication, expert advice and administrative support.

Potential activities cannot include:

·         Weed and pest projects on a single property

·         Planting species that are known to be, or could become agricultural weeds

·         Purchase of major capital items (>$1000)

·         Activities that could impact on matters of national environmental significance

·         Where the primary purpose is to improve amenity (e.g. picnic tables)

For more information, click here 

To discuss a potential project, call me on 8941 4266 or 0419 142 835

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.