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One Land – Many Stories: Prospectus of Investment Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities December 2012. Welcome and Agenda. One Land – Many Stories: Prospectus of Investment Caring for our Country Sustainable Environment stream Program Architecture
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One Land – Many Stories: Prospectus of Investment Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities December 2012
Welcome and Agenda • One Land – Many Stories: Prospectus of Investment • Caring for our Country Sustainable Environment stream • Program Architecture • Joint Activities • Target Area Grants • Community Environment Grants • Working on Country • Caring for our Country Sustainable Agriculture stream • Land Sector Package • Biodiversity Fund • Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund • Natural Resource Management Planning for Climate Change • Questions
The Prospectus • An overarching framework of the priorities for Australian Government investment in Australia’s valuable and most vulnerable places • A single document detailing the narrative for investment through the Land Sector Package and the Sustainable Environment stream of Caring for our Country • Supported by grant program guidelines • A staggered release on the NRM and Biodiversity Fund websites
Target Areas • National focus • The Central Australian Connection • Cape York • The Kimberley • Tasmania • South-west Western Australia • South Australia-Victoria Connection • Greater Border Ranges Region • Urban waterways and coastal environments • The National Reserve System • The Great Barrier Reef
Caring for our Country Program Architecture Overarching framework An ongoing initiative Delivered through two streams: Sustainable Environment and Sustainable Agriculture.
Caring for our Country Sustainable Environment Stream • Sustainable Environment stream: ‘Australia’s national environmental assets are conserved, resilient and healthy’ • Three strategic objectives: • Protection of our conservation estate • Maintenance of ecosystem services, including ecological and cultural values, now and into the future • Enhanced capacity of Indigenous communities to conserve and protect natural resources
Reef Rescue • Reef Rescue will be continued in the next phase • Prioritisation of areas and activities will continue for the next few months and will be communicated once finalised early next year • Available funding and delivery arrangements are currently being worked through Regional Delivery • A key component of Caring for our Country • The Australian Government expects their role in delivering Caring for our Country to focus on: • regional level NRM planning and prioritisation • brokering partnerships and delivery of regional NRM • community engagement and capacity building in NRM • delivery of Caring for our Country objectives • reporting of NRM outcomes at a regional level. • Available funding and delivery arrangements are currently being worked through
Target Area Grants • Medium to large-scale projects • Competitive within target areas: • The Central Australian corridor • Cape York • The Kimberley • Tasmania • South-west Western Australia • Urban waterways and coastal environments. • Anticipated release in early 2013
Community Environment Grants • Separation of environment and agriculture streams for small grants programs • Community Environment Grants – continuation of small grants through the Caring for our Country Sustainable Environment stream • Applications will be accepted across Australia • Projects will be linked to the strategic objectives of the Caring for our Country Sustainable Environment stream
Working on Country Up to $244.249 million over four years (from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2017) for projects: National investment: • $220.918 million for Working on Country projects, supporting 680 Indigenous ranger positions annually • Two funding streams: $180.918 million from the Working on Country program and up to $40 million from the Biodiversity Fund • Targeted process. NT investment: • $23.331 million for expansion of Working on Country in the NT, supporting an additional 50 Indigenous ranger positions by 2015/16 through the Stronger Futures Jobs Creation Package.
Sustainable Agriculture Stream • Caring for our Country • Sustainable Agriculture Stream • Vision: Australia’s agricultural base is sustainable, productive and resilient • Strategic objectives: • Sustainable production of food • Innovation in Australian agriculture and fisheries practices • Reduced impact of weeds and pests on agriculture • Improved management of agriculture and fisheries and the natural resource base • A skilled and capable Landcare community Delivery across Agriculture Portfolio policies and priorities Biosecurity National Food Plan NRM Research & Information – ABARES Development of a National Drought Policy Carbon Farming Futures
Sustainable Agriculture Delivery • Five-year outcomes will guide investment, delivery and reporting. • The Sustainable Agriculture stream will be delivered through a mix of investment approaches, which will include: • Small grants to community groups • Regional Delivery • Reef Rescue • Strategic Investments • Industry partnerships • Innovation in agriculture • Eradication of new incursions • National surveillance framework for existing weeds • Landcare leadership and support
The Land Sector Package • Part of the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future plan • Of the seven Land Sector Package measures, SEWPaC is responsible for delivering four: • The Biodiversity Fund • Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund (Stream 2 = DCCEE) • Stream 1 of the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund (Stream 2 = DCCEE) • Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board 17
The Biodiversity Fund • The Biodiversity Fund invests in stakeholders to store carbon, enhance biodiversity and build greater environmental resilience across the Australian landscape. • Three investment themes • Biodiverse plantings • Protecting and enhancing existing vegetation • Managing invasive species in a connected landscape 18
The Biodiversity Fund – Looking ahead • Round 2 based on learnings from Round 1 and the Northern Australia Targeted Investment • Round 2 call for applications early in 2013 • Focus on: • Targeted approach • Partnerships • Carbon outcomes 19
The Biodiversity Fund – Round 2 • Targeted approach • Tasmania • The Central Australian Connection • South-west Western Australia • South Australia-Victoria Connection • Greater Border Ranges Region • Urban waterways and coastal environments • Great Barrier Reef • CFI projects seeking to enhance their biodiversity outcomes across Australia 20
Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund • $22.3 million over 5 years from 2012-13 • Stream 1: Capacity Building and Business Support • Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities - $17.1 million • Stream 2: Research and Development • Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency - $5.2 million • Stream 1 Applications Closed • Category 1 – Feasibility and Assessment activities up to $50,000 • Category 2 – Business and Project Development activities up to $300,000 • Applications closed on Wednesday 12 December 2012 21
Stream 1 of the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund • Update regional NRM plans to: • help guide the location and nature of biodiversity and revegetation activities • optimise carbon co-benefits for biodiversity, water and agricultural production • complement other initiatives such as the Biodiversity Fund and Carbon Farming Initiative • Funding: • $24.16 million 2012-13 to 2015-16 • for identified regional NRM organisations across Australia • to update existing regional NRM plans • Updates made must be within the scope of the Principles for the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund (the Principles) 22
Development of the Principles • The Principles were drafted in consultation the regional NRM organisations • 3 principles: • Plans identify priority landscapes for carbon plantings and strategies to build landscape integrity and guide adaptation and mitigation actions to address climate change impacts on natural ecosystems • Planning process is logical, comprehensive, and transparent • Plans use best available information to develop actions and are based on collaboration with government, community and other stakeholders 23