20 million trees are being planted by 2020 to deliver real environmental benefits at the local level.

What is the 20 Million Trees Program?

The Australian Government’s 20 Million Trees Program was established in 2014 with the aim of planting 20 million trees by 2020 to re-establish green corridors, urban forests and threatened ecological communities. The Program involved competitive grant rounds delivered by individuals and organisations, and large-scale plantings delivered nationally by service providers: Greening Australia, Landcare Australia and CO2 Australia.

The 20 Million Trees Program is part of the national stream of the National Landcare Program, with four strategic objectives:

20 million trees – 20 million trees and associated understorey planted by 2020.

– 20 million trees and associated understorey planted by 2020. Environmental conservation – support local environmental outcomes by improving the extent, connectivity and condition of native vegetation that supports native species

– support local environmental outcomes by improving the extent, connectivity and condition of native vegetation that supports native species Community engagement – work cooperatively with the community

– work cooperatively with the community Carbon reduction – contribute to Australia reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

The 20 Million Trees Program complements and aligns with other Australian Government environmental initiatives, such as the work of the Threatened Species Commissioner.

There are no funding opportunities open under this program.

On National Tree Day 2020, we celebrated the 20 Million Trees Program successfully reaching and exceeding its ambitious 20 million trees target on budget and on-time, before the end of 2020.

Due to a higher than expected survival rate, many projects have delivered more trees than the target, with approximately 20.3 million trees established to date. This number is likely to increase as reports continue to be submitted for a number of projects that are expected to be finished by the end of the year. The 20 Million Trees Program is a great example of what can be done when government and communities work together.

20 million tree pledge delivered and exceeded - video

As some of the program’s projects are still in progress, a review of program outcomes and evaluation of the program will be undertaken in 2021.

20 Million Trees Competitive Grant Rounds

Over the five years, three competitive grant rounds were delivered by the 20 Million Trees Program supporting tree planting projects valued between $20,000 and $100,000 (GST exclusive) led by individuals, landholders, community groups, non-government organisations and state, territory and local government agencies. A mix of trees and shrubs were planted on public and private land; in urban, peri- urban and regional areas across Australia.

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Grant funding of $4 million was approved for 52 projects to deliver 1,220,851 million native trees towards the 20 million trees target. Projects commenced in December 2017 and provided direct benefits to threatened species and/or a threatened ecological community listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). Projects awarded funding under Round 3 of the program are now in their final activity stage. Approved 20 Million Trees Round Three Projects (PDF - 326.58 KB)

Approved 20 Million Trees Round Three Projects (DOCX - 52.29 KB)

Over $4 million was approved for 62 projects across every state and territory to plant native trees and shrubs, contributing around 1.3 million native trees towards the 20 million trees target. Projects commenced in December 2015 and targeted revegetation activities to establish native trees and associated native understorey species, with priority to support nationally listed threatened species and threatened ecological communities. Some projects were complemented by up to three Green Army Teams to assist with the delivery of their project. Approved 20 Million Trees Round Two Projects (PDF - 238.49 KB)

Approved 20 Million Trees Round Two Projects (DOCX - 59.28 KB)

Grant funding of over $4.4 million was approved for 55 projects to plant native trees and associated understorey in a range of urban and regional projects across Australia, contributing 1.11 million native trees towards the 20 million trees target. Projects commenced in December 2014 planting trees to re-establishing native vegetation, providing habitat to support our threatened species, and creating greener spaces to improve the liveability of our cities and towns. Approved 20 Million Trees Round One Projects (PDF - 212.34 KB)

Approved 20 Million Trees Round One Projects (DOCX - 54.33 KB)

Grant funding totalling up to $4,565,440.50 was approved for 13 projects to plant native trees and associated understorey in the Cumberland Conservation Corridor, NSW Australia. Projects commenced in August 2015, with the planting of trees contributing to re-establishing native vegetation, providing habitat to support our threatened species, and creating greener spaces to improve the liveability of the Cumberland Conservation Corridor, encompassing Penrith, Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Blacktown, Fairfield and Liverpool Local Government Areas. Approved 20 Million Trees Cumberland Conservation Corridor Grant Round projects (PDF - 75.94 KB)

Approved 20 Million Trees Cumberland Conservation Corridor Grant Round projects (DOCX - 29.02 KB)

The Cumberland Conservation Corridor was an Australian Government Election Commitment to protect threatened ecosystems in Western Sydney. The Cumberland Plain Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia subregion is one of the most cleared and highly fragmented ecosystems in Australia with only 13 per cent of the region’s native vegetation remaining. The Cumberland Conservation Corridor proposal was developed by key local stakeholders. The establishment of the Corridor contributes to the long-term sustainability of bushland in the Cumberland Plain under threat by urban expansion. The Corridor will protect patches of woodland to improve the resilience of this ecological community and support the movement of species through the Corridor. The Australian Government has acquired two properties under the Cumberland Conservation Corridor Election Commitment which have made significant contributions to the protection of Cumberland Plain woodland values. Londonderry The Londonderry Woodland Reserve is a vital remnant of the critically endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland. The 5.5 ha property supports protection of the critically endangered ‘Cumberland Plain Woodland and Shale Gravel Transition Forest’ listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation ACT 1999 (EPBC Act). The property links Rickabys Creek and provides critical pathways and additional habitat for a suite of threatened species across the Cumberland Plain including the Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, Koala, Yellow-bellied Glider and Yellow-bellied Sheath-tailed Bat. Londonderry is managed in perpetuity for conservation purposes under a Plan of Management implemented by Conservation Volunteers Australia. Management of the land includes activities such as the removal of identified weeds, replacement and new planting, protection of threatened species as well as community education events. For more information on Conservation Volunteers please visit www.conservationvolunteers.com.au. Mulgoa Wallaroo is a 38 hectare property managed in perpetuity for the protection of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) listed critically endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland and endangered Cumberland River-flat Eucalypt Forest. The property has good connectivity with Mulgoa Creek and forms an important corridor from Mulgoa Nature Reserve and the Wearn Biobank to the north through to Cumberland Plain Woodland located on private property to the south. Over 70 fauna species have been identified on the property including the vulnerable listed Chalinolobus dwyeri (Large-eared Pied Bat) and 66 native flora species. Wallaroo is managed in perpetuity for conservation purposes under a Plan of Management implemented by the Cumberland Land Conservancy. Priority actions on the property include removal of debris, management of exotic species, access management and revegetation. Community events and educational activities are also held on the Mulgoa property. For information regarding the Cumberland Conservation Corridor please visit www.cumberlandlc.org.au.

From 2015 to 2018, approximately $5 million was allocated to plant one million trees across the west of Melbourne. Leadwest was the organisation contracted to deliver the project and works with Melbourne’s six western municipalities and around 30 local stakeholder groups, to contribute to sustainable, liveable, healthy communities through urban and peri-urban revegetation activities in west Melbourne. Projects were delivered within the Local Government Areas of Brimbank, Hobson’s Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham, including Point Cook Coastal Park. Greening the west of Melbourne (PDF - 86.85 KB)

Greening the west of Melbourne (DOCX - 32.2 KB)

Service Providers

The Australian Government engaged three Service Providers to deliver large-scale tree planting projects across Australia. The service providers are:

CO2 Australia

Greening Australia

Landcare Australia

By the end of 2020, projects being delivered by the three Service Providers will re-establish green corridors across our landscapes, providing habitat for threatened species, while also reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. These large-scale projects will also achieve local environmental outcomes and complement other components of the National Landcare Program.

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