Funding for sustainable land management
On-ground works funding for sustainable land management on Kangaroo Island.
Funding incentives for a range of land management activities are being offered by the Kangaroo Island NRM Board for the 2013-14 financial year.
Over the past 10 years the Kangaroo Island community has received approximately $2.58 million in funding provided by the board. Recipients of the funding include farmers and other landholders and community groups.
This funding has been sourced from the federal and state governments for activities designed to protect our natural resources like soil, water and native vegetation. Kangaroo Island has benefited in the short-term by the injection of funds into the economy and in the long-term by improved environmental, social and economic outcomes.
How has this money been spent?
Approximately $1.76 million has been allocated to biodiversity oriented projects such as fencing remnant vegetation, revegetating with indigenous plants, relocating water points out of creeks and rivers and installing stock and vehicle crossings. These projects have helped to prevent erosion, in-stream sedimentation and loss of soil nutrients and improve property biodiversity.
About $820,000 has gone towards sustainable agriculture based projects that include establishing perennial pastures, salt land agronomy, spreading of lime sand and incorporating clay and the setting up of confinement feeding areas during the drought. These projects have resulted in better water and nutrient retention and usage. There is less erosion and degradation of land through it being affected by salinity and water logging, and retaining ground cover protects the soils.
The $2.5 million in incentive funding provided by the board has been more than matched by an estimated $4.3 million in cash and in-kind contributions provided by the recipients of incentive scheme funding, taking the total value of the collaborative investment over the past decade to at least $6.8 million. The Board also recognises the significant private investment by landholders undertaking natural resources management activities on their properties without the support of on-ground works incentive funding. The combined result is an outstanding accomplishment by the island’s land owners and managers.
This year’s funding
Information about the incentives available for biodiversity projects offered by the KI NRM Board for the 2013-14 financial year, is provided in the advertisement in this week’s edition of The Islander. Closing date for applications has been extended to Friday 11 October 2013.
For more information about funding guidelines or the application form please contact the Community Landcare Co-ordinator, Natural Resources Centre Kangaroo Island, 37 Dauncey Street Kingscote, phone (08) 8553 4444, or email kinrc@sa.gov.au
