In May this year, the Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley announced the $14 million Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants program. This program is supporting recovery projects in seven government-designated regions impacted by the Black Summer bushfires in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia.

The program is managed by a partnership between the National Landcare Network, Landcare Australia and the Peak Landcare State and Territory Landcare organisations, demonstrating that excellent projects and outcomes for improved delivery of bushfire recovery actions are achieved when landcare is engaged and supported.

Community and Landscape scale partnership projects focus on species and habitat restoration both in those areas that were severely affected by the bushfires, and the essential unburnt habitats which are now, more than ever, vital to protect. These projects are bringing together a diverse range of experience and expertise from on-ground Landcarers and community groups, Traditional Owners, researchers, subject matter experts, Not-For-Profit organisations and more.  The large number of high quality grant applications received demonstrated the strong community capacity for bushfire recovery and ecological restoration.

The Program has been supported by the Australian Government’s Bushfire Recovery Program for Wildlife and their Habitat.