Deadline: 30-May-22
The Victoria State Government is seeking expressions of interest from suitable organisations which can deliver an ambitious program to revegetate and restore at least 20,000 hectares of native habitat across private land in Victoria.
Expressions of interest are open for suitable organisations which can deliver this part of the program, bringing in co-investment and helping private landowners tap into financial incentives available through land restoration and carbon markets.The successful delivery partner will recruit landowners to participate and also play a role in the delivery of works, involving the planting of millions of trees and shrubs to become habitat for native species.
The Victorian Government supports the restoration of native vegetation on private land that improves habitat for biodiversity and increases carbon sequestration and welcomes interest in the Private land component of the BushBank Program (the Program).
This work is part of the Victorian Government’s $77 million BushBank program to revegetate and restore natural environments across Victoria.
Objectives
Six objectives guide the Program. They reflect the Victorian government’s desire to deliver real on-ground restoration outcomes that improve biodiversity and increase carbon sequestration across Victoria. They also reflect a desire to help build capacity within the Victorian restoration sector to access opportunities for cofunding, including through the carbon market. Objectives 1 and 2 are equally important objectives for the private land component overall, noting that individual landscape areas and sites may bring stronger biodiversity or carbon benefits
- Successfully restore and permanently protect native vegetation for biodiversity and ecosystem function at scale, within target landscapes.
- Increase vegetation-based carbon sequestration and storage that is included in Victoria’s emissions inventory.
- Amplify biodiversity, carbon and economic outcomes by encouraging co-investment, including from carbon markets, private and philanthropic sources.
- Build on existing restoration sector expertise and local landowner networks and encourage collaboration within the restoration and conservation sector.
- Provide economic benefits through diversified income streams for landowners and new employment opportunities in the restoration and conservation sector.
- Enable the involvement of First Peoples and local community groups.
Funding Information
Up to $30.9 million has been allocated to the Program and these funds seek to:
- leverage private investment including from carbon markets to deliver 20,000 hectares or more of restored and protected habitat on private land.
- create jobs and support a growth in restoration industries including seed and nursery suppliers.
Eligibility criteria
Delivery partners must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- be an incorporated or statutory entity (including governmental, not-for-profit or private entity) with financial systems in place for receiving, managing and acquitting government funding
- have demonstrated experience in delivery of large-scale native vegetation restoration projects in Victoria with a good track record in delivering successful projects to a high standard on time and within budget
- have existing relationships with landowners within the proposed project landscape area(s)
- have links and/or previous experience working with other organisations within the proposed project landscape area(s), where those organisations are proposed to be involved in project delivery
- have appropriate systems, processes and procedures in place to identify and manage risk that complies with all relevant laws and regulations including the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017
- have appropriate systems, processes and procedures to ensure good governance, and a high standard of quality assurance for project delivery
- have demonstrated experience in delivering projects that access carbon co-funding from the specified market if the proposed project includes carbon co-funding
- be a fit and proper person.
For more information, visit https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/grants/bushbank-private-land-restoration-and-protection
