Project

Landholder Support for Native Grasslands

Supporting woolgrowers with Conservation Covenants on the Northern Plains

With the support of Country Road, Trust for Nature is pleased to offer a new program to support woolgrowers with conservation covenants on the Northern Plains of Victoria to deliver on-ground conservation works on their properties. 

The Northern Plains of Victoria are home to some of our most unique habitat and wildlife. Much of our native grasslands have been lost since European colonisation, however areas of this precious habitat still exist on private land. Trust for Nature has worked to covenant much of our grasslands with willing landholders.

Now we’re seeking to support our covenantors to help improve the conservation value of their covenants.

One of Trust for Nature’s top priorities is helping landholders to restore, enhance and protect habitat on private land to create safe havens for plants and animals. Over the past couple of years, landholders have expressed the need for increased support for on-ground works to better manage, protect and restore habitat on their land. This program is designed to meet this need and support our community. 

Please read the FAQs on this page thoroughly before proceeding with an application. 

Apply here
Thanks to the support of the Country Road Climate Fund, Trust for Nature is inviting eligible landholders to apply for up to $5,000 for essential on-ground conservation works on their property.  

To receive support through this project applicants must be woolgrowers who own a covenant with native grassland habitat. Eligible covenantors will be selected for involvement based on their relative conservation needs. Priority will be given to properties that contain the EPBC listed ecological community: The Natural Grasslands of the Murray Valley Plains. 

How to apply 

Woolgrowers in the North Central and Mallee catchments, who have covenants with native grassland habitat, are invited to apply below for works such as weed control, pest animal management, adding exclusion fencing and other environmentally beneficial works. The nature-positive outcomes will ensure this important landscape is restored and protected for both people and native wildlife. 

Applications close 12 September, 2025. During the EOI process we may contact you for more information. Successful applicants will be notified in by 1 October, 2025.

This program is open to all registered landholders who have a Trust for Nature covenant in the North Central and Mallee catchments of Victoria. Covenantors must be woolgrowers with native grasslands on their covenant. 

The applications are open from 18 August 2025 and close 12 September 2025.

All applications will be notified by the end of September 2025. Trust for Nature will review all applications for eligibility and conservation outcomes. The North West Regional Team may be in contact with the applicant to request further information. 

Landholders can apply for any works that will directly benefit the conservation of their grassland covenant. For example: 

  • Revegetation 
  • Fencing  
  • Weed / pest control 
  • Ecological burning  

Covenants will also receive ecological assessments and updated management advice. 

The program will provide up to $5000 in on ground works for successful applicants. 

Trust for Nature will work collaboratively with successful applicants to deliver appropriate works. On-ground works will be carried out between November 2025 and June 2026.