Local community groups across Queensland, NSW and the ACT could get a boost to their koala recovery efforts thanks to a second round of $5 million in community grants.

Building on the success of round 1, the Saving Koalas Fund Community Grants Round 2 will provide between $50,000 and $200,000 to local organisations to improve the extent, quality and connectivity of koala habitat.

Examples of eligible activities include:

•    Planting koala food trees and creating new koala habitat.
•    Restoring koala habitat by removing large woody weeds like lantana, so that koala-friendly trees become accessible and usable again.
•    Improving koala corridors that allow for movement across the landscape.
•    First Nations-led caring for Country activities that support koalas.

This second round of funding will increase the Australian Government’s investment in local koala projects to more than $10 million. These projects will also support the recovery of other threatened species that share the same habitat as koalas, such as greater gliders.

Koalas are listed nationally as endangered in Queensland, NSW and the ACT.

Overall, the Australian Government is investing more than $76 million through the Saving Koalas Fund.

To apply for funding, visit https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/saving-koalas-fund-community-grants-round-2

Further information on the Saving Koalas Fund can be found here: Koala conservation - DCCEEW

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP:

“No-one wants to imagine an Australia without the koalas. The Australian Government is ensuring that our kids and grandkids will still be able to see koalas in the wild. 

“Communities across Australia play a crucial role in protecting and conserving this beloved animal. This funding is about supporting local groups to do what they do best – getting communities involved in protecting this iconic species.   

“This second round of Saving Koalas funding will increase the Australian Government’s investment in local koala projects to more than $10 million, from a total of $76 million in our Saving Koalas Fund.

“I am committed to achieving our target of zero new extinctions in Australia – this includes the koala.”