news, Cradle Coast authority, natural resource management, regional land partnerships

New projects to help restore threatened species on the North-West Coast could get under way later this year if a Cradle Coast Authority funding application succeeds. The CCA is finalising its submission to the federal government’s regional land partnership in the North-West region, before applications close on February 8. The partnership funds organisations for a number of environmental or agricultural improvement projects, such as reducing or removing invasive species from World Heritage sites. Invasive species can be plants such as ragwort, thistles, pampas grass, or Paterson’s Curse, but they can also be animals like rabbits, feral deer, sugar gliders, rats or cats. Up to $170 million is on offer nationally to help protect and recover threatened species and ecological communities. The national land partnerships program has $450 million to cover 195 projects and is part of the federal government’s $1 billion spend on the national landcare program. In addition to the environmental projects, the funds may support agricultural activities which aim to improve soil quality, help farmers adapt to climate change, and protect biodiversity and vegetation on farms. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said $70 million would go into sustainable agriculture projects. "The projects bring good environmental and farming practices together to benefit both nature and agriculture.” The CCA may submit up to a maximum of five environmental projects and two agricultural projects in its application, with a minimum of one in each category. If successful, it will also work on planning natural resource management, reporting, and encouraging the community to take part. The funds run through to June 2023, with the option to extend up to two years.

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