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Natural Heritage Trust

View map of regional NRM body regions (PDF 644 Kb)

This National Heritage Trust (the Trust) encourages community, local government and industry stakeholders to work together through the regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies to address NRM issues. The Australian and Queensland Governments signed the bilateral agreement for the Natural Heritage Trust (the Trust) in June 2004.

By the end of 2007, the Australian Government distributed approximately $111 million to regional NRM bodies in Queensland. The Queensland Government matched this with in-kind contributions at state and regional levels (a non-cash resource contribution drawn from state agency programs).

The Trust provides funding for environmental activities at a:

• community level (through the Australian Government Envirofund)
• regional level
• national/state level.

Queensland's implementation of the Trust has been a driving force for its regional NRM arrangements.

Phase three of the Trust, to begin in July 2008, is being negotiated.

Community level funding

Community groups can access small grants through the Australian Government Envirofund. These grants provide up to $50,000 (GST inclusive) to small-scale projects aimed at conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable resource use.

The Envirofund supports on-ground actions by groups and individuals to target local problems.

Regional level funding

Regional investments are the principal delivery mechanism for the Trust. The Trust is jointly delivered with the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP).

The Australian Government's Natural Resource Management website has further information about how the NAP and the Trust are jointly delivered at the regional level.

National/state level funding

Investment at this level covers national priorities, addressing activities that have a national or broad-scale outcome, rather than at a regional or local level. This includes Commonwealth-only activities, statewide activities and those that cross state, territory and regional boundaries. It also addresses matters of direct Commonwealth jurisdiction, such as those relating to Commonwealth waters.

In general, priorities for funding from the national delivery components of the Trust will be determined by the Australian Government, without calls for funding applications from the public. Proposals for statewide funding will be made by state and Australian Governments.

Last reviewed 10 December 2007

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