General News
31 May, 2024
Tree planting grants now
MOYNE Shire’s annual Community Carbon Offset Program (C3OP) is now open for applications.
![Tree planting grants now - feature photo](https://warrnamboolweekly-4634.kxcdn.com/img/containers/assets/news/tree-planting-grants-open.jpg/bda1239c2961cc05c13e24ca34e4fd10.jpg)
Grants of up to $1500 are available for community groups and between $1500 and $5000 for private landholders towards revegetation projects across the shire.
The annual program, for public land, was established in 2009 to offset the carbon emissions of council’s fleet of light vehicles and was expanded to include projects on private land in response to the Climate Emergency Declaration in 2019.
Mayor Ian Smith said the C3OP encourages the community to plant almost 4000 trees each year to compensate for an estimated 756 tonnes of carbon dioxide (or greenhouse gas equivalent) emissions from council’s light fleet vehicles.
“In addition to contributing to (non-verified) offsets, planting native trees helps support biodiversity throughout our region,” he said.
“Re-establishing vegetation in areas has helped landholders increase environmental values, protect from soil erosion and harsh wind conditions, and support native wildlife.
“These projects can also tie in with other initiatives run by organisations such as local catchment management authorities and Landcare groups to reconnect habitat for native flora and fauna on a landscape scale.”
Applications are now open and will close on Saturday, June 15.
For full details on eligibility and to apply, visit: www.moyne.vic.gov.au/c3op.