NRM South has received funding totalling $765k for two projects as part of $24 million funding boost for threatened species across Australia. The funding allocation was announced today by Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek through the Australian’s Government’s Saving Native Species (Priority Species) grants.
The first of these projects will see approximately $443k go towards a continued partnership project with CSIRO and the Inland Fisheries Service to protect the endangered Swan Galaxias – a small freshwater fish that lives in restricted areas of north-eastern Tasmania. This is the continuation of a successful project that ran from 2021 to 2023 and saw the translocation of 120 fish into new, predator-free sites, the development of an environmental DNA marker and riparian restoration works in important Swan Galaxias habitat. We will be continuing these efforts across this project by expanding the use of the e-DNA marker, engaging with the freshwater angler community, and completing additional assessments and modelling work. You can read more about the project here.
The second project sees us working with a species that is new to our portfolio – the critically endangered Ammonite Snail. Just over $320k in funding has been allocated to this two-year project where we will be working with project partner the Australian Museum and local experts to find out more about this small, cryptic species. Click here to find out more.
Our projects were two of a total of 61 projects targeting 73 native species to receive funding under the Saving Native Species grants.