Grants open to help young Victorians restore nature

YOUNG Victorians will have more opportunities to care for the environment, with $450,000 in Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants now available.

Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos announced the grants, which provide up to $5000 for schools, youth groups and community organisations to run environmental projects.

“We’re supporting this next generation of Victorians to work together and protect our state’s great outdoors,” he said.

The grants support education programs and hands-on projects such as habitat restoration, revegetation and wildlife monitoring.

Funding was awarded to 103 projects last year, including a biodiversity initiative that involved planting 400 native plants to support the endangered Gang-Gang cockatoo.

Another project used the grant to plant 700 indigenous plants at Winton Wetlands, helping students with disabilities connect with nature.

Since 2018, more than 47,000 young Victorians have participated in Junior Landcare projects, planting nearly 100,000 native plants, completing 270 biological surveys, and taking part in 1100 environmental excursions.

“Young Victorians are champions of nature, and these youth-led programs will help restore and improve native habitats across the state for our native plants and animals to thrive,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

For more information on the grants, head to environment.vic.gov.au/grants