Investing In Biodiversity

BushBank

The BushBank program is addressing climate change and supporting biodiversity as it restores more than 20,000 hectares of land across Victoria. This ground-breaking program involves the planting of millions of native trees and shrubs to pull carbon from the air and create healthy habitat for Victorian wildlife.

For further information visit the BushBank website.

Deer Control Program

The Victorian Deer Control Program aims to reduce the impact of wild deer on biodiversity, water quality, public safety, agricultural assets, and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

To achieve these key objectives, we are working with and supporting key stakeholders to help undertake an integrated program which will deliver over 150,000 hectares of herbivore control annually to the contributing targets in Protecting Victoria's Environment - Biodiversity 2037.

For further information visit the Deer Control Program website.

Faunal Emblems Program

The Faunal Emblems Program is helping to improve the long-term sustainability of the Leadbeater’s Possum and the Helmeted Honeyeater in the wild.

The Victorian State Government has invested $6 million since 2018 for a range of targeted actions that will assist populations directly, as well as protecting and restoring crucial habitat.

For further information, visit the Faunal Emblems website.

Icon Species

The Victorian Government’s Icon Species Funding Program focuses on protecting and managing a range of native plants and animals, threatened species and habitats through collaborative planning, increased engagement and alignment of natural resources, scientific, educational and community sectors.

Through this program and our Faunal Emblems Program, we are providing funds for targeted actions designed to protect and conserve Victoria’s threatened species. Over $10.6 million has been provided by DEECA to support intensive management actions for 22 icon species being delivered in collaboration with species’ recovery teams. In 2022-23, $1 million of funding was awarded across the state to support the ongoing protection of icon species.

For further information, visit the Icon Species website.

Marine Environment

Targeted funding is provided for projects in the marine environment, building on the work completed in the initial Biodiversity Response Planning marine and coastal area.

In 2021–2023, $1.6 million has been allocated to marine projects to manage threats to the marine environment, fund restoration of key marine and wetland habitats. The projects will benefit a range of species including threatened species, provide blue carbon sequestration and benefits to fisheries.

Nature Fund

The Nature Fund has been established to encourage collaboration and partnerships between government, business, philanthropy and the community to deliver high impact projects that contribute to improving Victoria’s biodiversity.

The Victorian Government has invested $10 million to establish the Nature Fund to support projects that will make a significant difference to the outcomes for biodiversity and threatened species in Victoria.

For further information, visit the Nature Fund website.

Peri-urban Weed Management Partnerships Program

The Peri-urban Weed Management Partnerships (PWMP) program is a collaborative initiative between state and local governments. It is aimed at safeguarding native plant and animal species from invasive weeds in the peri-urban fringe area of Melbourne. With a funding allocation of $4 million until June 2025, the program supports a total of 10 projects, including 6 recurrent and 4 new project initiatives.

Building upon the accomplishments and previous investments of the PWMP 2016-2021 initiative, the program focuses on identifying native habitats of significant environmental and community value on public land. Land managers, such as Councils and Parks Victoria, work closely with the community to prevent and reduce impacts of high-risk weeds in key council areas surrounding Melbourne.

For further information, visit the Peri-urban Weed Management Partnerships website.

Port Phillip Bay Fund

The Port Phillip Bay Fund is a grants program provided by the Victorian Government. It supports community groups, not-for profit organisations, schools, research institutes, councils and Traditional Owner groups to protect and enhance the Bay’s natural environment.

For further information, visit the Port Phillip Bay Fund website.

Protecting Biodiversity Program

The Protecting Biodiversity program is part of the Victorian Government’s ongoing investment to support the implementation of Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037.

To reduce the impacts of pest herbivores, pest predators and invasive weeds at priority locations across the state, $32 million is being invested to June 2025 in 36 large scale projects where invasive species management will have the most benefit for the greatest number of native species.

A further $2.8 million is also supporting Trust for Nature’s Iconic Estates program, covenanting private land with high biodiversity values across Victoria. This program contributes to the permanent protection target in Biodiversity 2037 and supports self-determination aspirations of Traditional Owners by engaging and collaborating with them about the values they would like to protect or restore on private land.

For further information, visit the Protecting Biodiversity website.

Traditional Owner Caring for Country grants

The Aboriginal Caring for Country Grants aim to support Traditional Owners’ rights on Country and drive Aboriginal self-determination by supporting Aboriginal communities to identify, understand and apply Aboriginal values and traditional ecological knowledge in the management of Country to enable healthy Country and healthy people.

These grants support the Department’s commitment to Aboriginal self-determination. Pupangarli Marnmarnepu ‘Owning Our Future’ is the Department’s roadmap to building a better future with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians, through systemic and structural change that fully supports Aboriginal decision-making, evaluation and talent building to inform its policy and projects.

Victorian Landcare Program

The Victorian Landcare Program provides supports Landcare in Victoria to strengthen and enable groups and networks across the State. Support includes funding Regional Landcare Coordinators and on-ground Landcare Facilitators who empower locals to act for their environment, the Victorian Landcare Grants program and the Victorian Landcare Awards.

For further information, visit the Victorian Landcare Program website.

Weeds and Pests on Public Land Program

The Weeds and Pests on Public Land (WPPL) program is taking action to protect Victoria’s nature through controlling invasive plants and animals across Victoria national parks and state forests. The program has been running since 2005 and invests over $3 million each year, with an additional $1 million provided each year by our key delivery partner Parks Victoria.

The program is working to achieve the vision of Biodiversity 2037, Victoria’s plan to ensure our natural environment is healthy and resilient.

For further information, visit the Weeds and Pests on Public Land website.

Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants

The Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants provides funding to support authorised wildlife shelters and foster carers.  Annual grants of up to $3,000 are available to authorised wildlife shelter operators and foster carers for equipment, infrastructure, consumables, education and training.

For further information, visit the Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants website.

Previous Investment

Previous investment programs implementing Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037.