The Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) is the Australian Government’s primary investment platform for environmental protection, sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.
Previous NHT funding supported the National Landcare Program. This program ended in June 2023. Learn more about previous phases of Natural Heritage Trust funding.
The next phase of the NHT will provide $1.1 billion towards practical on-ground projects to support environmental protection, sustainable agriculture and natural-resource management.
Projects will address pressures facing our natural resources, including:
- climate change
- habitat loss
- invasive species and the cumulative impact they have on our environment and agricultural productivity.
Activities will include invasive species management and habitat restoration. Along with targeted actions to improve the trajectory of threatened species, such as:
- planting trees
- native seed dispersal to regenerate landscapes
- erosion control
- fire management.
Activities will also support farmers to accelerate the uptake of climate-smart, sustainable agricultural practices.
Projects under the next phase will run over the 5 years until 30 June 2028.
We will jointly deliver these projects with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Projects will also be delivered in partnerships with:
- national and regional bodies
- agricultural industry
- non-government entities
- First Nations communities
- state and territory governments.
Programs
Indigenous Protected Areas
To continue and expand the Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) program $231.5 million will be invested.
Funding will be used to deliver biodiversity conservation outcomes by supporting First Nations peoples to continue to manage existing IPAs and to establish 10 new IPAs.
Read more about Indigenous Protected Areas.
Protecting species and landscapes
An investment of $145 million will be provided to protect threatened species and priority landscapes across Australia. This includes those prioritised by the Threatened Species Strategy and Action Plan.
Read more about Threatened species and ecological communities.
Read more about The Threatened Species Action Plan.
Urban Rivers and Catchments Round 2
An investment of $118 million will be provided to restore urban rivers and waterways. This will improve habitat for native species and water quality. It will also provide access to green space for communities.
Read more about the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program.
Saving Koalas Fund
To support the recovery and long-term conservation of the koala and its habitats $57 million will be provided to the Saving Koalas Fund.
Read more about the Saving Koalas Fund.
Ramsar wetland protection
To protect and restore Australia’s Ramsar Wetlands $50 million will be invested.
Read more about Ramsar Wetlands.
World Heritage protection
To protect and restore Australia’s World Heritage properties $48 million will be invested.
Read more about World Heritage.
Protecting important biodiversity areas
An investment of $25 million will be provided to pilot initiatives that protect important biodiversity areas, including on private land. This will help protect 30% of our landmass by 2030.
Supporting national, multi-regional or emerging priorities
An investment of $10.1 million will be provided towards projects that deliver on national, multi-regional or emerging priorities.
Bush Blitz
To support Bush Blitz, Australia’s largest nature discovery program $5 million will be invested. This program is delivered in partnership with BHP and Earthwatch Australia.
Visit the official Bush Blitz website.
National Landcare Facilitator
An investment of $2 million will be provided to the National Landcare Facilitator initiative. This will promote community volunteering and support grass roots landcare organisations across Australia.
Maintaining delivery capability and capacity and Climate-Smart Agriculture
Remaining funding will be directed to:
- peak landcare organisations and regional delivery partners to support their delivery capability and capacity
- Australian Government departments for program administration
- the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program to partner with industry, regional and community organisations and First Nations peoples to drive the transition to a more climate resilient, productive and sustainable agriculture sector.
A regional delivery partners panel will be established. The panel will deliver natural resource management projects, including under the next phase of the NHT.
Details on the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program are available on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
Read more about Panel of Regional Delivery Partners.