13 Dec 2017 Mansfield Courier, Mansfield VIC (General News) THE State Government is helping to preserve Northern Victorias precious natural environment, with more than $175,000 in grants allocated to local Landcare groups in the North East region. Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) recently announced the funding from the Victorian Landcare Grants program, to help local Landcare and environmental volunteer groups on priority projects in the region. As well as local staff support and maintenance, larger grants have been allocated to local projects that look to improve biodiversity through revegetation, and remnant vegetation enhancement and protection. In Northern Victoria we have some of the hardest working local environmental groups in the state, Ms Symes said. We need to take great care of our natural environment and the unique biodiversity of this part of the world. Ensuring our volunteers and community groups are well supported in their amazing work is vital and the grants program provides funding for these groups to undertake onground works that contribute to the improvement and protection of the regions natural resources. Funding also supports projects that promote innovation, as well as build capacity through activities for land stewardship and on-ground change, start-up funding and maintenance grants to ensure a strong Landcare base across the state. Recipients of the Landcare grant in the Mansfield region are: North East and Surrounds Equine Landcare Inc who received $7200 to provide field days and workshops to build skills of horse owners in improving natural resource management practices. North East Blackberry Action Group who received $7200 for a pest management project continuing to engage farmers in blackberry management, plus providing best practice case study. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.