I was delighted to join people on the Dromana Foreshore on Saturday ahead of National Tree Day on Sunday, July 27 to plant trees and revegetate our local environment.
Communities around Australia celebrated National Tree Day on Sunday and across the weekend. It was an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the positive steps we can take to make a difference.
Our quality of life is intrinsically linked with the health of our natural environment. That’s why the Government is focused on meaningful action that will make a real difference to our natural environment and in our local communities.
Within the next month the Government will be visiting regions across Australia to talk to local communities about how they can get involved in the new 20 Million Trees and National Landcare Programmes.
A community information session will be held in each state to engage people about how they can get involved in the new programmes.
We want to work with regional natural resource management organisations, Landcare groups, community organisations and individuals to deliver simple, local and long-term solutions to environmental challenges.
This is a great opportunity for local farmers, environment groups, Landcare bodies and natural resource management organisations to have a say about how the National Landcare Programme could benefit their local area.
We’re keen to get as many views as we can so a consultation survey will also be available online for all Australians to have their say.
The Government has committed $50 million over the next four years to the 20 Million Trees Programme with funding announcements expected to be made shortly.
The 20 Million Trees Programme aims to re-establish native vegetation, increase and improve habitat to support our threatened species, and create greener spaces to improve the liveability of our cities and towns.
The Australian Government will be helping communities roll out 20 Million Trees projects in their local areas by a range of means including competitive grants to land managers and local community groups, and a tender process for Service Providers to do large-scale plantings.
With the $525 million investment in Green Army and our $50 million investment in the 20 Million Trees Programme, together with other National Landcare Programme investments, the Government’s total investment in natural resource management amounts to more than $2 billion over the next four years.
For more information about Green Army or the 20 Million Trees Programme visit www.environment.gov.au or information on the National Landcare Programme community sessions is available at www.nrm.gov.au
Media contact: Samantha Robin on 03 5979 3188 or 0427 787 166
Download the related file: 280714 Media Release – National Tree Day.pdf