Naturally Inspired Grants Round 7, February 2014 Grant Writing Workshop

1. Naturally Inspired Grants Round 7, February 2014Grant Writing Workshop

2. Workshop overview History of the naturally inspired grants Preparing a grant application Naturally Inspired Grant Round 7 funding priorities Available resources Preparing a map Where to get help

3. Funded by the Australian Government Developed in 2009 to support community groups involved in or interested in becoming involved in natural resource management initiatives. Provided over $290,000 in funding over 6 grant rounds Approximate in-kind return of $4.70 per dollar invested $3.30 direct in-kind value and $1.40 volunteer labour Enabled 76 community groups to deliver 91 projects Aims to improve community skills, knowledge and engagement around environmental themes and issues. Also focuses on delivering on-ground outcomes aligned with varying grant priorities

6. Preparing an application Before starting your application Getting started Project objectives Resources Alignment with funders Terms Making a map Identifying values on your site

7. Before starting your application What does the project involve? Where is it? What planning have you already conducted? What other information do you need to gather before you seek funds? (people resources, approvals, feasibility, practicality, good practice etc) What specific activities do you intend to carry out? Support available: NRM South project planner Local experts from NRM South/Local Government/NGO’s- seek advice Other environmental care groups Existing site plans/strategic plans for the reserve/site Develop your plan on paper…

8. Getting started on your application Do you have insurance?Contact an organisation that can sponsor your application eg. Local Government/ Landcare Tasmania/ SCAT Do you have an ABN?Statement of supplier Are you registered for GST? Indicate clearly in your budget Have you identified who will be the main contact from your group for this project? Discuss with your group Have you advised other group members of your intention to seek funding? Discuss your ideas with the group Do you have permission from the land owner/manager? Contact the land owner/manager to discuss your project TIP: Document your sponsors agreement to sponsor youso if staff change, you still have formal approval in writing/email

9. Be clear with your project objectives What do you want to achieve, what are the best practices? Weed control/vegetation condition improved/WoNS removal Revegetation for fauna habitat/corridor linkage/improved amenity Fencing Training/awareness raising to support your group activities Wider community engagement- signage, publications, public events etc Make a task list of the steps to achieve each of your objectives Example: Habitat condition improvement for Swift Parrot: Approval for works/permits – contact land owner for approval of activities/DPIPWE Weed spraying- secure funds for contractors Slashing- contact council staff for support Working bees (extra volunteers may be needed)- schedule events, develop flyers Follow up spraying-contact council staff for support Replanting weed area- order plants and borrow planting equipment Photo: Chris Tzaros

10. Make sure you have the resources you need To physically conduct any on ground works To manage grant funds/administer any paperwork needed People power - volunteers/council/contractors Information – will you achieve your goals the best way possible- best weed control techniques, species lists/locally sourced plants What do you currently have, what do you need to complete your project? Make a task list of the resources you need: Labour, tools, people, technical i.e:

11. Does your project align with the funders targets? Things to check: Group eligibility - see guidelines Criteria - threatened species/ target locations etc Eligible activities - most grant programs have exclusions Naturally Inspired Grants activities can include: Direct on ground works Building community capacity and awareness raising Engaging with indigenous people or supporting delivery by indigenous people

12. Does your project align with the funders targets? Assessment of Naturally Inspired Grants Projects must be within the NRM South region Meet priority theme targets Value for money (in kind vs grant funds ~25% contribution) Achievability – projects must be completed before 30 April 2015 Feasibility – technical practicality Community engagement and/or capacity building potential Ability to demonstrate clear environmental and/or NRM benefits. Inclusion of a map showing general project location and activities Commitment to ongoing project maintenance, monitoring & evaluation Alignment with any relevant local or regional NRM planning tools See example Sample Application

13. Terms to understand Value for money (in kind vs grant funds ~25% contribution) Volunteer labour - in kind (@$30 per hour) Staff in kind or other professional assistance - in kind (where you aren’t paying them from $30-$70) Cash - if you have cash or equipment/Council contributions $$ Other grants received (no double dipping!) Regional natural resource management (NRM) planning tools See NRM South's list of NRM plans – local and regional on our website nrmsouth.org.au (follow quicklinks to the funding page) Recovery plans for specific species Local government plans Reserve plans Site specific plans Regional - overarching plans

14. Previous program targets Rounds 1, 2 & 3 - aligned with CFOC Milestones 2009-10 Rounds 4, 5 & 6 aligned with CFOC Milestones 2010-13

15. Naturally Inspired Grant 7 - priorities Improve habitat condition and address recovery actions for EPBC Act listed species Improve the habitat condition and address recovery actions for EPBC Act listed communities, including recently listed “Coastal Temperate and Subtropical Saltmarsh” Reduce threats to Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) Improve condition and mitigate threats to Ramsarsites and values and adjacent lands Improve condition of coastal habitats or urban waterways EPBC = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Ramsar = internationally listed wetlands inc Interlaken, Moulting, Apsely Marshes and Pitt Water Orielton Urban Waterways = Derwent River system

17. EPBC act listed species Species listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Southern NRM region: 67 Flora species (including 1 bryophyte) 47 Fauna species (including 3 invertebrates) Types of activities Resources Recovery Plans, Listing statements and Conservation Advice Threatened species link website – activity advice To find EPBC listed species at your project site – visit the List or the Natural Values Atlas

18. EPBC act listed communities Vegetation communities listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Southern NRM region: 4 vegetation communities: Saltmarsh, Alpine Sphagnum bogs, Lowland grasslands, Callitrisoblonga- E. ovataforest Types of activities Habitat improvement i.e. planting, weed control, grazing control Species specific recovery actions i.e. nest boxes in Forty-spotted pardalote habitat Resources Recovery Plans and Listing statements the List or the Natural Values Atlas – TASVEG communities not an exact match

19. Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) Listed under the World Heritage convention – one of only 2 sites world wide fulfilling all criteria for listing Focus on protecting the values of the TWWHA and Mitigating threats within a 10 km buffer around the TWWHA Types of activities Preventing spread of weed pests and diseases i.e. hygiene training, washdown stations, signage Weed control Fire management Resources TWWHA management plan – currently under review

20. Ramsar sites Listed under the Ramsar Convention - containing representative, rare or unique wetlands, or wetlands that are important for conserving biological diversity 4 sites in the southern NRM region of Tasmania Moulting Lagoon (pictured - Long Point TLC) Apsley Marshes Pittwater Orielton Lagoon Interlaken Types of activities Fencing to control stock access within and adjacent to Ramsar sites Weed control Revegetating agricultural land with native plants adjacent to saltmarsh to allow migration with sea-level rise Resources Management Plans Ecological character descriptions

21. Coastal habitats or urban waterways The broadest priority area Coast – all soft sediments along the Southern coastline Urban waterways – Derwent River and Estuary Types of activities Shorebird protection and education activities Dune erosion control Revegetation/vegetation management on coastal or urban waterways Marine debris clean up Improved water quality Resources SCAT – Coastcare hand book http://www.scat.org.au/coastcare-handbook.html

22. Permits and legislation Commonwealth and Tasmanian Governments includes legislation to protect threatened species and biodiversity, to manage weeds or marine resources, and to protect cultural or Aboriginal heritage. Regardless of whose land you are working on, activities must be conducted in accordance with any relevant State and Commonwealth legislation and appropriate permits must be obtained where necessary Working with threatened species? Check out the DPIPWE permits for ‘taking’ threatened flora and fauna You need a permit to ‘take’ threatened flora when: Control weeds near threatened plants Collect seed from threatened plants This also applies to fauna – however it is unlikely that activities that would be eligible under the NI grants

23. Aboriginal heritage assessments Before your group prepares to undertake any on-ground works in any area on the coast or nearby Ramsar sites you should contact Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania (AHT). AHT is a division of DPIPWE and is responsible for providing Aboriginal heritage management advice in accordance with Aboriginal heritage legislation. http://www.aboriginalheritage.tas.gov.au/ AHT can advise if there are any recorded Aboriginal Heritage sites on the site, or if there is any potential for heritage to exist there, by undertaking a free desktop assessment. If a formal on-ground assessment is required, you can include the cost of employing an Aboriginal Heritage Officer in your funding application.

24. What we want to see in a map Location (and area or length) of proposed works As area for weed control As a point for installation of hygiene infrastructure or interpretive signage As a line fencing and marine debris clean up Ideally the map should also contain: A layout of the site, show north and have a scale, land forms, roads, property boundaries, areas of vegetation Locations of natural values e.g. threated species and communities Please contact us if you need help!

26. Mapping resources, identifying values and recovery actions The List http://maps.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/app/list/map The Natural Values Atlas (need to register and login) https://www.naturalvaluesatlas.tas.gov.au Recovery plans, conservation advice and listing statements http://www.environment.gov.au/legislation/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-act/about-epbc-act/epbc-act-lists#species Threatened species link http://www.threatenedspecieslink.tas.gov.au/

27. maps.thelist.tas.gov.au Measure area Measure distance Print map as PDF Select map Add layers e.g. threatened species, vegetation communities Export as KML to google earth Mark areas for activities

28. Contact us! Grant enquiries Ruth Osborne – rosborne@nrmsouth.org.au 6221 6161 Ramsar, coastal and urban waterways Lyndel Wilson – lwilson@nrmsouth.org.au 6221 6114 EPBC listed species and communities, TWWHA Magali Wright – mwright@nrmsouth.org.au 6221 6142 GIS and mapping support Steve Joyce – sjoyce@nrmsouth.org.au Shirley Zheng – szheng@nrmsouth.org.au 6221 6177 NRM South Local Area Facilitators:Tasman/Sorell - Jennifer Milne Jennifer.milne@tasman.tas.gov.au6250 9221 GlamorganSpring Bay – Rosie Jackson rosie@freycinet.tas.gov.au6256 5051 Huon- Tim Ackroyd tackroyd@huonvalley.tas.gov.au6264 0324 Hobart-Kingborough - Andrew Winkler awinkler@nrmsouth.org.au0428 259 156 Or contact your local council NRM or Bushcare officer