Apply for a conservation partners grant

Emergency assistance for conservation agreements

Following emergencies such as bushfires and floods, grant funding can be used to help with initial protection or rehabilitation of conservation values, so they are not further degraded. Grants can also provide initial support to wildlife such as watering points and shelter.

Later when you have had time to assess restoration needs, grants can help with weed and pest infestations and site-specific restoration so that native vegetation can recover.

Please get in contact with the BCT or your local BCT officer if you would like assistance.

Conservation partners grants

Our conservation partners grants provide financial assistance to landholders in managing their conservation area, allowing them to improve the biodiversity value of their properties. They are available under our Conservation Partners Program.

Landholders with an eligible agreement can generally apply at any time for a conservation partners grant, however BCT regions may specify a period each year when applications for grants will accepted or assessed.

Landholders participating in the Humane Society International’s (HSI) Wildlife Land Trust are also eligible for grants from the BCT.

Landholders participating in the Land for Wildlife (LFW) program are also eligible to apply to the BCT for grant funding but should contact the Community Environment Network (CEN) to apply, either via email to [email protected] or by phone on 02 4349 4756.

Am I eligible for a grant?

You can apply for a grant from the BCT if you have one of the following NSW private land conservation agreements:

conservation agreements without annual management payments
trust agreement
registered property agreement
wildlife refuge or wildlife refuge agreement

Participants in the Humane Society International’s (HSI) Wildlife Land Trust program are also eligible to apply for a grant from the BCT.

What will be funded?

The following activities are eligible:

assisted regeneration and weed control (as part of assisted regeneration strategy)
fencing to secure conservation area, control grazing from livestock, to enable restoration of native vegetation
introduced pest animal control
revegetation (including supplementary planting)
habitat restoration—such as installation of nest boxes and artificial hollows, or additional ground cover layer and habitat structure
Saving our Species management actions
other maintenance—such as repairs to existing features required to maintain conservation values
native vegetation restoration planning to guide assisted regeneration or revegetation
project / grant management by third party(s)

In some cases we may arrange to visit you on your property to assess eligibility and proceed with your application. During these visits you can ask the BCT staff member any questions you have about your agreement and the activities you want to undertake.

Works already completed or funded from another source will not be eligible for a grant.

If you are unsure of the activities required to improve the ecological condition of your land and would like to request a site visit, please contact the BCT.

What funding can I get?

There are three levels of funding available:

Up to $15,000 per year for up to three (3) years for landholders with eligible in-perpetuity agreements (conservation agreements, Trust Agreements, Registered Property Agreements).
Up to $8,000 per year for up to three (3) years for landholders with a term Registered Property Agreement.
Up to $2,000 per year for up to three years for landholders with a wildlife refuge agreement or who are members of the Wildlife Land Trust.

In-perpetuity agreements greater than 1,000 ha in size may be eligible for up to $30,000 per year for up to three (3) years.

Applications will be funded if they are eligible, fulfil the assessment criteria, and if the BCT has available funding.

What will I need to contribute?

Contributions from landholders such as labour or co-contributions are encouraged.

When and how can I apply?

Eligible landholders can generally apply for a grant at any time, however BCT regions may specify a period in each year when applications for grants will be accepted or assessed

To apply for a conservation partners grant, please complete our online grant application form. A copy of the application will be emailed to you once it has been submitted.

Please contact the BCT on 1300 992 688 if you have any issues.

You can also fill out a printable grant application form (please download, print and fill in). You can then either scan and email your completed form to [email protected] or mail it to us using the following address:　

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust
Locked Bag 5022,
Parramatta NSW 2124

How will my application be assessed?

You will need to complete a grant application form, where you will provide costing and details of the works you are proposing.

Applications will be assessed against the following pass/fail criteria:

The need for the activity has been demonstrated—either by it being identified in the management plan for the agreement, or because you have made a separate case that funding is needed because new circumstances have arisen.
The activity is good value for money as it is a reasonable cost compared to similar activities.
The approach to undertaking the activity is sound and it will deliver results to maintain the conservation values of the property.

What will I need to do if successful?

If you are successful and your application is approved, you will be sent a letter of offer with a grant agreement. The approval of your grant may have specific conditions determined by the assessment process or other considerations made by the BCT. We will identify these in the letter of offer.

Once you have accepted the offer in writing, you will then receive the first grant instalment to begin the agreed works. You will need to report annually on the works and acquit the grant once complete. Evidence such as a before and after work photos, contractor invoices and a statutory declaration that all works were completed must also be supplied.

If you are unsuccessful, we will notify you in writing and give you an opportunity to discuss the outcome with us.

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