21 May 2026 – Landcare Australia has announced the recipients of its bushfire recovery grants, supporting community-led environmental restoration projects across fire-impacted regions of Victoria following the devastating January 2026 bushfires.
Backed by a bequest alongside generous contributions from corporate and private donors, including General Mills, Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure and The Wood Foundation, more than $160,000 is being directed to grassroots Landcare groups leading recovery efforts on the ground. The funding will support communities to rebuild native habitat and shelterbelts, manage invasive pests, and address erosion across fire-affected landscapes, helping to restore environmental health while also strengthening community connections during recovery. View the grant recipients here.
In the Upper Murray, Mitta and Lismore regions, landholders will be supported to restore both agricultural land and native vegetation through activities such as fencing, erosion control and pest management. Other areas supported include communities in and around Longwood, Horsham and Harcourt, who will benefit from workshops, habitat restoration projects and citizen science initiatives aimed at monitoring and supporting the ongoing recovery of local landscapes.
Kerri Robson, Gecko CLaN Network facilitator of grant recipient projects across Burnt Creek Landcare and Gooram Landcare, said the funding would play an important role in supporting communities to take practical steps toward recovery.
“This funding will help us support landholders to restore fire-affected landscapes through pest management, rebuilding shelterbelts and protecting natural regeneration areas. It’s also bringing people together – we’re strengthening community connections as we recover.
“But there’s still a long way to go. Recovery from fires like these takes years, not months, and additional support is essential to ensure we can continue this work and build lasting resilience across our communities.”
While the immediate crisis has passed, many other impacted communities continue to deal with the long-term effects of the fires, which burned vast areas of farmland and critical habitat earlier this year, and still require support.
Landcare Australia CEO, Dr Shane Norrish, said the January fires risk becoming another “forgotten fire,” despite the scale of their impact almost reaching that of the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires.
“These fires left a profound mark on landscapes, livelihoods and communities in Victoria,” Dr Norrish said. “As time passes, there’s a risk they are overlooked – but for the people on the ground, recovery is ongoing and, in many cases, only just beginning.
“Programs like these grants are crucial because they put resources directly into the hands of local groups who are restoring fences, rebuilding habitats, managing erosion and supporting their communities. But the reality is, the work is far from done. Continued investment is essential for other impacted landcare networks, and we’re calling on corporate partners and donors to step forward and help sustain this recovery.”
Landcare Australia Chair, Peter Garrett AM, said the grants demonstrate both the importance of community-led action and the need for long-term support.
“These terrific projects highlight the extraordinary commitment of Landcare groups working to restore their environments and support each other through recovery,” Mr Garrett said.
“We all know recovery from fires of this magnitude takes time, resources and sustained attention – it cannot be a short-term response. I believe there is a real opportunity for corporate Australia and philanthropic partners to play a meaningful role here. We know these communities are resilient, but they shouldn’t have to do it alone. Additional support now will have lasting benefits for people, biodiversity and the health of our landscapes into the future.”
The funded projects will support a wide range of recovery activities, including repairing fencing, restoring native vegetation, rebuilding wildlife habitat, managing erosion and invasive species, and strengthening community connections through on-ground and volunteer efforts.
Landcare Australia invites support from individuals, philanthropic organisations, corporate partners and government agencies to expand this work and ensure communities can continue their recovery.