Record funding for volunteers and groups that care for our natural environment

Grants of up to $15,000 from the latest round of the Friends of Parks and Nature Small Grants Program will help fund 71 nature-based and heritage projects across SA.

This is the largest amount of annual funding ever provided for volunteer-led conservation activities in South Australia. Successful projects include:

• Protecting critically endangered flora in Mount Billy Conservation Park, Hindmarsh Valley National Park and Stipiturus Conservation Park on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
• Restoring important heritage sites in the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park, Innamincka Reserves, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Torrens Island and Troubridge Island Conservation Park.
• Providing first-aid training, emergency response equipment, safety and sun protection for various land based and marine conservation activities around the state.
• Restoring bushfire affected areas of Scott Creek Conservation Park in the Adelaide Hills.
• Protecting migratory and beach nesting shorebirds including the hooded plover on the Limestone Coast.
• Supporting citizen science in monitoring projects to collect data on the health of native fauna and the presence of feral animals in various regions.

The grants are part of a four-year $3 million state government funding commitment to support Friends of Parks and Nature group projects.

Department for Environment and Water Community and Nature Partnerships Manager, Helen Donovan, said Friends of Parks and Nature groups performed important environmental work across South Australia, but as they are volunteer member groups, this work could be hard to undertake.

"These grants are all about empowering our environmental volunteers to do the projects which they are so passionate about," Ms Donovan said.

"The department is incredibly grateful for the work performed by the thousands of volunteers who dedicate their time to these groups and congratulate the very deserving recipients of these grants."

Friends of Parks and Nature President Duncan MacKenzie said the funds would be utilised by more than 5000 volunteers in 148 Friends of Parks and Nature Groups across the state.

"Our volunteers work closely with park rangers to ensure that all projects funded conserve and enhance the huge array of biodiversity and heritage that makes up our marvellous environment and park system," Mr MacKenzie

Funds are available to all Friends of Parks and Nature groups in SA.

For more information about the groups and how to join, and for a full list of recipients, visit: https://www.environment.sa.gov...