BushBank program

Overview

The $77 million BushBank program will restore natural environments across Victoria through millions of native plants and trees being planted.

The trees and shrubs planted will be carefully selected to benefit a range of species.

$30.9 million will go towards habitat restoration on private land, while $6.8 million has been committed for works on public land.

The BushBank program also provides economic opportunities for Traditional Owners and supports their participation in restoration and carbon markets.

Restoration activities will include seed collection, weeding, fencing and planting.

The BushBank program will contribute to targets within Protecting Victoria's Environment - Biodiversity 2037, Victoria’s plan to stop the decline of our native plants and animals and improve our natural environment.

The BushBank program will also contribute to the Victorian Government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2045.

Habitat restoration on private land

The Victorian Government is investing $30.9 million to revegetate and restore at least 20,000 hectares of native habitat across private land in Victoria. That's an area 10,000 times the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) that will be transformed into healthy habitat for native wildlife.

Cassinia Environmental is our delivery partner and is working with us, Trust for Nature and several other partners to bring significant co-investment to achieve this ambitious goal. They are helping private landowners tap into financial incentives available through land restoration and carbon markets.

Cassinia has secured millions of dollars of private co-funding, planted 2,540 hectares of land and plans to plant a further 2,500 hectares during 2025 with more to follow.

Ten private landowners have signed agreements, and detailed planning is underway with eight more. Landowner recruitment will continue over the next five to seven years. More information about how you can register your interest to participate in the program can be found on the Cassinia Environmental website.

Habitat restoration on public land

The Victorian Government has allocated $4.5 million for 7 projects to deliver native plantings on public land across the state, including in the Otways, Berrook State Forest, Wodonga Regional Parks and the Clarkesdale Nature Reserve in the Goldfields.

Native plantings delivered through projects will create and expand habitat for species including the platypus, barking owl, squirrel glider, grey-headed flying fox and murray crayfish

This follows $2.3 million allocated in 2021 to revegetate and restore habitat in parks and reserves managed by DEECA and Parks Victoria. Works have taken place across areas in the Grampians National Park, Wilsons Promontory National Park, Berrook State Forest in the Mallee, and the Lerderderg State Park, benefitting species such as malleefowl, pink cockatoo, southern brown bandicoot and southern blue gum trees.

Traditional Owner grants

Traditional Owners are important partners of the BushBank program, which has allocated $14.5 million over 10 years (until 2031) providing opportunities for Traditional Owners to lead and participate in habitat restoration and carbon markets.

To date, $6.6 million has been committed for Traditional Owners to deliver 21 projects. These projects are designed to address biodiversity loss and climate change, and enable Traditional Owners to participate in healing Country and carbon markets, and to practice self-determination.

More information

For more information please contact the DEECA BushBank team.

To  receive updates from the BushBank program, subscribe below.

Subscribe