Residents and landowners in the Daintree lowlands are ideally situated to protect and restore the rainforest. They play a significant role on their own properties, while as volunteers with non-profit organisations, they develop and enhance community spirit.
About the grant
The purpose of this grant program is to support landowners and land managers with their projects to restore the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
The goal is to increase capacity within the community for addressing localised conservation challenges including:
- Rainforest fragmentation
- Invasive environmental weeds
- Restoring habitat for Threatened species
We offer Grants to conservation projects managed by non-profit organisations, community groups and private landholders that are undertaking on-ground practical conservation work.
Projects may include:
- Tree planting and maintenance
- Managing natural regeneration through removal of environmental weeds
Grant amount
- Total program funding available is $100,000
- Individual grants of between $10,000 and $25,000 are available
- In some instances, part-funding of a project may be considered
- Grants made available through this program are not recurrent
Grant selection process
Priority will be given to projects that:
- Restore native vegetation by removing environmental weeds
- Are planting 250 or more trees sourced from an approved nursery such as the Douglas Shire Council nursery in Mossman
- Show community or volunteer engagement within project activities
- Are undertaken by local Indigenous and other community groups, schools and non-profit organisations. Individuals are still encouraged to apply if they meet the general terms of the grant
- Add value to existing work sites or work locations
- Include cash and or in-kind contributions
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants may be eligible for funding if they are:
- Implementing rainforest restoration works in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest area at: Forest Creek, Kimberley, Cow Bay, Diwan, Thornton Beach and Cape Tribulation
- Non-profit organisations or community organisations with an ABN
- Individuals with an ABN
- Individuals without an ABN who will subcontract the works to a suitable contractor
- Have demonstrated project management abilities or will engage suitably experienced contractors in the implementation of the project
Eligible Grant Expenditure
- Purchase of plants and/or materials
- Payment of contractors to support revegetation planting and rainforest regeneration, including site preparation works
- Non-profit organisations may use grant monies to pay staff directly involved in the delivery of projects
Ineligible Grant Expenditure
Including but not limited to:
- Activities that have already been funded
- Activities that have already been delivered
- Activities that are of purely personal or private benefit
- Activities that do not fit within environmental restoration and management activities
- Works covered by insurance or other sources of funding including other grants or government funding
- Compensation to landholders for their own labour
- Tools
- Fencing
- Fuel or other vehicle costs
- Legal expenses, rates and taxes
- Purchase of movement or still cameras and equipment
- Training
- Accommodation or travel costs for staff and volunteers
Grant Assessment & Notification
Grants will be assessed on an ongoing basis until all funds are expended. Gondwana Rainforest Trust will advertise when all grant funding for the financial year is expended. You will be advised of the decision via email once assessment of your application is complete. Please note this process may take up to eight weeks. An assessment panel will review all applications and score each of the criteria and rank projects based on total scores.
Community involvement: The extent to which the project is supported by the local community and / or will actively generate community support and participation.
Skills and knowledge gained will provide public benefits: The extent to which the project will result in local environmental benefits or engagement of the local community.
Evidence-based decisions: The extent to which the applicant has sought appropriate advice and consulted with relevant stakeholders and is implementing best practice techniques or seeking professional advice in delivery.
Collaboration and Linkages: The extent to which the project engages partners, landholders and local communities, as appropriate, and builds into other local programs or priorities.
Risk management: The applicant has considered risks to project delivery, safety and the environment and identified appropriate controls to themselves, contracted parties and general public/other participants.
Grants will be assessed on an ongoing basis until all funds are expended. Rainforest 4 Foundation will advertise when all grant funding for the financial year is expended.
You will be advised of the decision via email once assessment of your application is complete. Please note this process may take up to eight weeks.
Grant reporting & payment of the grant
Reporting is essential for the integrity of the grants program. There are five milestones for reporting:
- Sign and submit the agreement
- Upload site map and photographs showing the project site before commencement
- Submit the first invoice
- Complete final report including photographs showing the site after completion
- Submit final invoice
Application requirements
- ABN of applicant (if applicable)
- If applicant does not have own ABN, the work must be undertaken by a contractor with an ABN
- Proven capacity to complete project
- Completed risk assessment
- Public Liability Insurance Certificate of Currency (Minimum $10 million)
- If the applicant is not the landowner or landholder, written permission from the landowner or landholder where the activities will take place
Round 1 applications opened in April 2023, with grants of between $10,000 and $25,000 to assist with practical conservation work in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest available to non-profit organisations, community groups, and private landholders.
The next round of grants will be announced shortly.
The application form for Rainforest Restoration Community Grant is available here.
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To learn more please see our article on the launch of the program in 2023.