Bucks for Bush - the next generation
Bucks for Bush – the next generation Grants is a joint initiative of the South East Natural Resources Management Board and the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
Bucks for Bush – the next generation is an expansion of its former status and now incorporates the Working with NRM Communities Red Gum Regeneration Project and DEWNR’s Priority Habitat Enhancement Project in a bid to provide the south east community with a coordinated program focusing on building better habitat in our region.
Bucks for Bush – the next generation has provided grants of up to $20 000 (GST exclusive) to help the South East community be involved in managing and protecting our native habitats for the future.
Projects are now underway and a total of 78 projects have received just under $630,000 worth of funding. This includes a combination of 69 individual farmers and 5 community/schooling groups working to protect a mix of private and public land.
Types of projects that have been funded include:
• Fencing of remnant native vegetation, including wetlands & paddock trees
• Establishing large native windbreaks
• Revegetation and pest plant and animal control to enhance native habitat
• Protection and restoration of priority habitats (e.g. Red Gum, Buloke, Grey Box and
grassy woodlands)
• Protection of threatened species habitat -flora & fauna (e.g. Red-tailed Black
Cockatoo, Malleefowl)
• Wetland protection and restoration including sink holes, rising springs, silky tea
tree swamps
Although future rounds for Bucks for Bush have not been confirmed, you can register an expression of interest and be notified of future funding information when it comes available. Contact Cathy Ashby on (08) 8735 1236 or email cathy.ashby@sa.gov.au to discuss your ideas.
Bucks for Bush2
In 2011 Bucks for Bush was in its second round and the increase in demand for the grants saw the total pool of funding applied for from landholders doubling the amount of funds available. The assessment team was spoilt for choice this round having to choose between very high quality applications and several properties featuring high value vegetation for protection and enhancement.
Bucks for Bush2 saw 19 projects having been allocated a total of $120,000. These projects focused on better managing and protecting areas of native vegetation through practical on-ground work such as fencing from stock, weed and pest animal control and revegetation.
The on-ground works amounted to a total area of over 700 ha with projects running between April 2011 and June 2012. Projects have spanned the entire south east NRM region highlighting the importance the south east community placed on protecting remnant vegetation and enhancing connectivity of habitat through revegetation.
Protection of threatened species was also a common project activity with landholders keen to manage the threats affecting their native habitat and increase its resilience for local fauna including the endangered Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.
Additional to private landholders, four community groups received funds to actively manage habitat on public lands in Millicent, Naracoorte, Pt MacDonnell and Mt Gambier areas.
Examples of funded projects for round 2:
Threatened species protection in Hynam:
$7080 was granted to a private landholder to create a series of revegetation corridors to progressively link remnant bush with mature free-standing Red Gum and Buloke trees on the property. This will provide refuge and food for Bush Stone Curlews and Red-tailed Black Cockatoos – both endangered species that frequent the farm.
Community Groups in action:
Millicent Field Naturalists received $8765 to assist volunteers with managing pest plants and animals in 6.5ha of native vegetation within the township. The group will work with local primary and high school students to manage the land and educate the students about local flora and fauna.
Wetlands protection in Port MacDonnell:
$8950 was granted to a private landholder to fence off and exclude stock from cutting grass wetland and tea-tree habitat. Revegetation in this area will provide safe, extended habitat for threatened and endangered species including Snipe, freshwater crayfish, short-finned eels, swamp antechinus and several bird species including the Orange Bellied Parrot.