Deadline: 15-May-22
The Victoria State Goverment is inviting applications for the BushBank First Peoples Grants Program to support Traditional Owner participation in land restoration and carbon markets, including grants to build capacity and capability and for projects involving on-ground activities.
Traditional Owners are important partners in the BushBank program, with opportunities to lead and participate in habitat restoration and carbon markets. $14.5 million will be available via grants to support Aboriginal self-determination and Traditional Owner participation in restoration and carbon markets.
The grants are designed to address biodiversity loss, climate change and to improve the capacity of Traditional Owners to participate in healing Country, carbon markets and to practice self-determination.
Objectives
The BushBank program will fund projects that facilitate self-determination while meeting the broader objectives of the BushBank program:
- Improve, create and connect habitat for biodiversity.
- Increase carbon sequestration.
- Increase the ability of First Peoples to participate in biodiversity and carbon markets and other relevant opportunities.
The Grants are consistent with Pupangarli Marnmarnepu, DELWP’s Aboriginal Self Determination Reform Strategy, providing opportunities for First Peoples organisations to increase their ability to achieve self-determination and economic independence through internal capacity building or undertaking on ground activities that align with their aspirations for Country.
The three key areas of the program are:
- Support for Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities – designed to increase the capacity and participation of First Peoples in restoration and carbon markets.
- Private land restoration and protection – funded land management agreements where private landowners will be paid to restore and protect their land.
- Public land restoration grants – to restore and revegetate areas primarily on public land.
Streams
There are two funding streams available:
- A foundational stream to build capacity and capability
- A place-based project stream for on ground activities.
Funding Information
Two funding streams are available for eligible Traditional Owner Corporations:
- Foundational grants to build capacity and capability with a maximum request of $75,000 per application for projects delivered over a maximum of two years.
- Place-based project grants for on-ground activities with a maximum request of $500,000 per application for projects delivered over a maximum of four years.
Eligibility Criteria
Stream 1: Foundational to build capacity and capability
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A Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations that is either:
- An incorporated body registered, under Consumer Affairs Victoria; or
- An incorporated association under the federal Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.
Stream 2: Placed-based projects in Victoria
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A Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations that is either:
- An incorporated body registered, under Consumer Affairs Victoria; or
- An incorporated association under the federal Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.
Any proposals including on-ground works where the applicant is not the landowner must have the written consent of the landowner and support from:
- The Registered Aboriginal Party under the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 where formal boundaries are recognised, and the proposal occurs on crown land
- Other relevant Registered Aboriginal Parties under the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 where there is a shared interest in the land, and the proposal occurs on crown land
- Other relevant First Peoples organisations where there is no formal recognition currently in place, and the proposal occurs on crown land
For more information, visit Victoria State Goverment.
For more information, visit https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/grants/bushbank-first-peoples-grants
