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The community will be encouraged to champion and care for the environment thanks to a range of innovative projects funded by the NSW Government.

Educating young people on how to preserve Western Sydney woodland habitat, care for marine animals and help threatened species are among the 7 projects sharing an investment of almost $1 million.

The educational projects, which are designed to develop skills, encourage and inspire involvement in environmental protection, have been awarded funding under the 2023–24 round of the NSW Environmental Trust’s Environmental Education Grants Program.

The Environmental Education grants program supports projects that broaden the community’s knowledge, skills and participation in the protection of the environment.

The funded projects include:

• Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary – awarded $59,775 for the Eco Rangers program to engage young people in conservation activities including marine animal care, habitat clean-up and animal rescue and release events.
• Murrumbidgee Landcare Incorporated – awarded $60,000 for the Linking Generations for Threatened Species Conservation project which teaches students about local species and links them with experts and older community members, including Wiradjuri Elders.
• Cumberland Council – awarded $60,000 for Creating change one seed at a time which will protect native endemic species for future generations by encouraging private landowners and residents to become stewards of threatened species and communities.
• Tweed Shire Council – awarded $60,000 for Cultivating Tomorrow which will empower farmers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices.
• Western Sydney Parklands Trust – awarded $249,960 for Guardians of the Park, which will educate young people by providing hands-on learning experiences in restoring, connecting and monitoring threatened habitats.
• Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare Connection – awarded $247,583 to deliver on-ground ecological fire management workshops to landholders via the Eco Burn Education project.
• Hunter Region Landcare Network – awarded $243,220 for the Dry Rainforest Revival project which will engage the community in learning and restoring large areas of Hunter region Dry Rainforest.