Natural Heritage - Number 10
The Journal of the Natural Heritage Trust
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia
Environment Australia, Winter 2001
ISSN 1440-7256
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About this document
The Natural Heritage Trust represents the largest, coordinated, nationwide environmental rescue effort ever undertaken in this country.
The Trust has funded more than 10,300 projects, many of them for broad-scale, catchment-wide schemes coordinated by large organisations such as local councils. These groups then devolve the grants to many smaller groups and individuals that are helping meet the practical, onground components of their strategic environmental and natural resource management goals.
More than $1.1 billion from the Trust has been invested in these projects since 1996. The Trust has also been the catalyst for substantial financial contributions from other governments, sponsors, community groups and individuals. Every dollar invested by the Trust generates another $7 contributed from others either directly or inkind towards better natural resource management and environmental repair action. The Australian environment and thousands of community groups throughout the country will continue to benefit from the Natural Heritage Trust, with the recent Commonwealth Budget announcement of a $1 billion, five-year extension to the Trust.
But perhaps the most significant achievement of the Natural Heritage Trust is the role it has played in galvanising our greatest natural resource - people. More than 300,000 volunteers have been involved in Trust projects. More join volunteer groups every week. The Trust has reinvigorated environmental volunteers across our nation, as well as opening the way for many more Australians who have not previously been involved, uniting them in a common goal of environmental sustainability.
For every Natural Heritage Trust project there are a dozen human interest stories. This issue of Natural Heritage touches on a few of them. From braving crocodiles to monitor water quality in the Northern Territory to planting mangroves on the NSW South Coast, from fund-raising with Bilby merchandise in western Queensland, to educating tourists in WA's Shark Bay, the diversity of Trust projects is exceeded only by the diversity of the people involved.
Diversity notwithstanding, they share a common goal - to repair and enhance one of the most spectacular and rich landscapes on earth. They, and the thousands like them around the country, have earned our gratitude and deserve our thanks.
In this International Year of Volunteers, it is opportune to recognise those who have been partners in Trust projects, who give up hours of their time to make Australia a better place now, and into the future. Others will benefit from their contributions for many years to come. On page 3 of this journal, we call for nominations to formally recognise these great contributions. We urge you to consider nominating those individuals whose unpaid, tireless efforts go largely unsung, but who have a lasting and profound impact on the world around us.
It is also important to encourage new volunteers to be part of this national effort. Only by working together can we achieve all the goals that will ensure our environmental and economic sustainability. Anyone wishing to find out more about volunteering for a Natural Heritage Trust project should contact the community information line on 1800 065 823 for details about projects in their area.
Robert Hill
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Warren Truss
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
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