Sustainability projects set to be rolled out across SA
A series of community-led sustainability projects aimed at reducing the impacts of climate change will be rolled out across South Australia as part of a $100,000 State Government grants scheme.
The projects, which have been designed by Conservation SA in conjunction with the Department for Environment and Water, will focus on improving urban greening, coastal protection and water-sensitive design across the state.
They include a project to restore South Australian grassland habitat to allow for the reintroduction of endangered pygmy bluetongue lizards, the distribution of “climate ready packs” featuring items for greening, cooling and heat stress, and training programs on permaculture and native plant propagation.
Twelve community groups have been selected to deliver the projects, including Conservation Volunteers Australia, Uniting Communities, Permaculture SA and the Australian Association for Environmental Education.
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The latest State of the Environment report for South Australia, released by the Environment Protection Authority late last year, shows a downward trend in the abundance of native South Australian flora and fauna due to an increasingly hotter and dryer climate.
According to the report, the impacts of a warmer climate are more extreme than expected a decade ago, with changing rainfall patterns and intensified extreme weather events expected to put ecosystems and agriculture at increasing risk.
Conservation SA chief executive Craig Wilkins said the grants would help the groups spread the message about protecting, restoring and conserving South Australia’s natural environment in light of climate change.
“It’s great to be able to facilitate financial support for local groups to increase community awareness of environmental challenges and engage in emerging solutions,” he said.
