The Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network has been successful in securing $914,875 in funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Program.

The funding was granted as part of the Rudd Government’s $403 million investment in environmental and sustainable farming projects across the nation.

Victoria received $47.3 million for projects.

 According to Network Chairperson, Stuart McLean, project funds will be used to increase the area of native habitat and vegetation managed to reduce critical threats to biodiversity and to enhance the condition, connectivity and resilience of habitats and landscapes.

‘Some of the strategies we will be using to achieve this include stewardship incentives; stock exclusion fencing; grazing management; revegetation; weed and rabbit control; erosion control; farm planning and supporting sustainable farm practices’ said Mr McLean.

He said that the project area was centered on catchments of the Avoca and Avon-Richardson River systems.

This area includes highly fragmented landscapes where habitat loss, small patch size, poor recruitment and uncontrolled grazing threaten the long term survival of these remnants and the populations that depend on them.

In the Wimmera and Murray Mallee bioregions, the proportion of remaining native vegetation estimated at 4.6% and 6.9% respectively.

Mr McLean said that a major focus of the project will be on private property and that the network will be working in partnership with Landcare groups and landholders to deliver project outcomes.

‘Kevin Spence, our coordinator, has already started liaising with groups and their members’ he said.

The project will also be working with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation to assist in the identification and protection of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage where this is an issue.

Another key objective of the project is to establish a Conservation Management Network aimed at protecting ecological communities of the Upper Avoca.

This will be done with the support of local groups and organisations such as Trust for Nature.

‘We have good, existing relationships with local government, the North Central CMA, DPI, DSE, Parks Victoria and many other organisations’.

‘The Network can depend on them for support and to assist with any technical and expert advice we need’ said Mr McLean.

Mr McLean said that over the last seven years that the network has been in existence, Landcare groups and many individuals across the network area have worked hard, despite the tough conditions, to balance productivity and conservation.

‘We have achieved some terrific results, not least with our successful New Generation Landcare grant a year and a half ago’ he said.

‘The network is very pleased to be able to continue to support these groups and their members and is grateful to the Australian Government for providing the resources and opportunity to do so’ said Mr McLean.

‘We look forward to making a significant contribution to the government’s Caring for Our Country targets’.