This program is currently closed to applications.
Purpose
These grants seek to help secure threatened landscape-managed species and threatened ecological communities in the wild. Grant recipients are implementing on-ground and monitoring actions consistent with threatened species conservation projects developed by the Saving our Species (SoS) program or, where conservation projects have not been developed, that meet the objectives of the program.
The grant program’s specific objectives are to:
- maximise the number of threatened landscape-managed species and threatened ecological communities secured in the wild in NSW through strategic investment
- form long-term partnerships for threatened species conservation
- support cost-effective investment and responding to effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
The SoS Contestable Grants program aligns with the NSW Government's SoS Program and framework which was launched in December 2013. For more information please visit the Saving our Species webpage.
Funding available
$9 million was allocated to a single competitive round of grants to support a number of 7.5-year projects. Grants of up to $350,000 per project were offered to cover the first 5 years of 7.5-year projects, with the remaining 2.5 years resourced solely by the applicant.
The funding model assumes that for most conservation projects higher costs occur upfront in the first few years, with fewer resources needed when the project transitions to a maintenance phase.
At least 10% of the project value must be quarantined for monitoring of project activities and outcomes.
Who could apply?
The program was designed to foster partnerships between government, the community, non-government organisations and businesses. Grants were made only to lead organisations with strong demonstrable partnerships.
Grants awarded
In late 2018 a total of 28 projects worth $8,179,937 were awarded under the program. This followed an open call for applications during mid-2018 where a total of 49 applications were received.
The grants will provide direct funding to 23 landscape managed species and 30 threatened ecological communities listed under the SoS program. Approximately 70 other threatened species and 10 threatened ecological communities co-occurring with these entities will also benefit from the program.
