Biodiversity Response Planning Projects

Eighty-five projects for on-ground biodiversity action worth $33.67 million, and four projects for Marine Environment Targeted Action worth $1.1 million were announced in mid-2018 for funding. Funded projects are being delivered over three years, commencing in 2018-2019 through to 2021.

These projects are part of the $86.3 million investment to implement Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037 over the first four years of the plan.

The package of projects were assessed on their ability to maximise net outcomes for biodiversity and make progress towards state-wide targets associated with the Biodiversity 2037 goal of ‘Victoria’s natural environment is healthy’.

See the full list of Biodiversity Response Planning projects grouped by geographic area.

The below infographic presents the delivery outputs and some of the achievements from the second year of the Biodiversity Response Planning (BRP) investment program. BRP projects make a significant contribution to targets outlined in the Biodiversity 2037 plan, including the plan’s goal that ‘Victoria’s natural environment is healthy’.

BRP 2019-20 InfographicBRP 2019-20 Infographic

BRP 2019-20 Activities and Achievements

Projects announced for funding through Biodiversity Response Planning are displayed on the map below. This map allows you to explore all funded projects across Victoria by relevant geographic area. More information on the process used to develop projects is provided under Frequently Asked Questions below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Biodiversity Response Planning?

Biodiversity Response Planning  (BRP) is an area-based planning approach to biodiversity conservation in Victoria; designed to strengthen alignment, collaboration and participation between government agencies, Traditional Owners, non-government agencies (NGOs) and the community. BRP aims to progressively deliver a collective area-based response to the state-wide targets in Biodiversity 2037 (i.e. what should and could be done to contribute to the targets) commencing with collaborative project planning in the first half of 2018.

How was the Biodiversity Response Planning approach decided?

The implementation of the Biodiversity Response Planning approach was co-designed in late 2017 with over 100 stakeholders involved in on-ground biodiversity.

A series of workshops were held over October and November 2017. The first workshop was for Traditional Owners to provide their perspectives and identify key issues to be carried through the remainder of the co-design workshops. The remainder of the workshops included approximately 50 organisations and community groups/networks from across government and non-government, including some Traditional Owner organisations.

The outcomes of the co-design set the overall approach of BRP. This was documented in the Biodiversity Response Planning Co-design Overview Report .

Co-design overview report (PDF, 2.1 MB)

Co-design overview report (accessible version) (DOCX, 4.3 MB)

What was the process used to determine projects in Phase 1 of Biodiversity Response Planning?

Working Groups were established for each of the 11 BRP geographical areas across Victoria.   These each included up to 15 stakeholders experienced with biodiversity knowledge of the relevant area. Further information about Working Groups can be found on the relevant BRP area pages [links to the left].

Each Working Group was provided an indicative allocation of funding and were asked to recommend a package of projects to be funded within that area.

Biodversity Response Planning Areas Map

Working Groups used the latest science embedded in the Strategic Management Prospects (SMP) tool and their own local knowledge, to identify priority landscapes or themes. Projects were then developed by interested stakeholders, including community members, within these priority landscapes or themes. Projects were assessed and ranked by Working Groups. Additional projects were directed to a statewide pool of funding and were assessed by an independent panel.

Because landscape coastal and marine threats and cost-effective actions are not yet incorporated into the SMP tool, the marine and coastal working group prioritised projects based only on the project criteria and their local knowledge.

The Working Group and Independent Panel assessed projects against published criteria and provided their recommendations in June 2018 to DELWP for approval of project funding.

The criteria used for assessing proposed projects can be found below  :

Biodiversity Response Planning - Guidance Note and Project Criteria for Working Groups (PDF, 319.2 KB)

Biodiversity Response Planning - Guidance Note and Project Criteria for Working Groups (accessible version) (DOCX, 369.8 KB)

BRP Frequently Asked Questions - Project development and delivery

Marine Environment Targeted Actions - Supplement to the BRP Guidance Note and Project Criteria for Working Groups

What are the outcomes of the Biodiversity Response Planning Phase 1 Evaluation?

An evaluation of this first Biodiversity Response Planning phase has been completed, led by an independent evaluation expert. The evaluation provided an opportunity for participants to have their say on what worked well and what did not.  The evaluation summary report is available here.

The evaluation highlighted a number of areas to improve in order to achieve the aspirations of stakeholders who co-designed Biodiversity Response Planning or were part of this first phase.

DELWP, in consultation with key environmental agencies and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, prepared a response to the evaluation that sets out a commitment to act on the findings and work together to ensure the Biodiversity 2037 outcomes and targets are achieved.

Outcomes from the evaluation are being used to inform how BRP is undertaken in future years.

Biodiversity Response Planning Phase 1 Summary Report (PDF, 834.4 KB)

DELWP Response BRP Phase 1 Evaluation (PDF, 204.3 KB)

DELWP Response BRP Phase 1 Evaluation (accessible version) (DOCX, 102.1 KB)

What are the next steps for Biodiversity Response Planning?

As the investment phase of Biodiversity Response Planning (BRP) is complete, BRP has returned to its longer-term purpose and focus on strategic planning, including defining priority areas for action within different areas of Victoria, and strengthening partnerships and alignment of effort across the biodiversity sector to achieve the aims of Biodiversity 2037. Outcomes from the Phase 1 evaluation are being used to guide this work.

For more information about the current BRP process refer to “Working together for biodiversity”.

Further information

To find out more about Biodiversity Response Planning, contact the DELWP Customer Contact Centre on 136 186 between 8:30am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday or e-mail biodiversity.plan@delwp.vic.gov.au.

Page last updated: 09/09/21