A$120 million conservation gift supports plans for wider land management

Ten Australian conservation groups are sharing a combined A$120 million donation from Alexandra and Julian Burt, with recipients saying the funding will allow them to expand land protection, wildlife work and research. The gift is funding future work, not confirmation that a larger area has already been brought under conservation management.

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy received A$25 million, its largest grant. The organisation currently manages about 1.7% of the continent and wants to increase that to 5%. It says the donation makes that ambition more achievable, although the target remains a plan rather than a completed expansion.

Its work includes managing land with property owners, buying properties, restoring ecosystems and reintroducing native wildlife. Additional funding is also expected to support research on bats across its sanctuaries, including better information about where threatened species live.

Bush Heritage Australia received another A$25 million. It says part of the money will go towards acquiring the 20,000-hectare Wooroora cattle station near Cairns. Conservation groups expect the contribution to have effects over many years as projects and land-management programs develop.