The Biodiversity Fund is a key component of the Australian Government’s strategy to enhance biodiverse carbon stores, with 317 projects across Australia to be funded during the next six years (from 1 July), supporting landholders to undertake projects that establish, restore, protect or manage biodiverse carbon stores.

Central West CMA Program Manager - Implementation, Jane Chrystal said the two projects to be implemented by the CMA were aimed at improving the connectivity of ecosystems and landscape resilience in the Fish River catchment area, as well as protecting and enhancing biodiverse carbon stores in the woodlands of the Central West.

“The Fish River catchment project, worth $688,000 over four years, will address a number of threats to the riparian environment, with funding going to provide landholders with support to protect and enhance sensitive areas and to manage invasive species that threaten biodiversity,” Dr Chrystal said.

“The funds will go towards revegetation activities, establishing wildlife corridors and link high conservation value riparian areas and public reserves.”

The Central West woodlands project, worth $1.4 million over six years, will be targeted at private landholders within the targeted project area, to help improve diversity within woodlands.

“This will include support and advice on managing invasive species, preserving habitat and restoring connective corridors of species indigenous to the area,” said Dr Chrystal.

“These projects have the potential to halt or even reverse biodiversity decline and establish significant areas of carbon storage across the landscape. They support the work farmers and other land managers are already undertaking.”

The Biodiversity Fund is a key component of the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Plan.