Environmental Research 2025

Environmental Research 2025 is sponsored by NSW Environmental Trust. Provides funding for applied research in priority environmental themes to address contemporary environmental problems.

Environmental Research 2025 | NSW Government Environmental Research 2025 crop_original Image credit keyboard_arrow_up Andy Leigh and Jay Nicholson This grant aims to facilitate collaborations undertaking applied research in priority environmental themes.

Grant amount: Up to $200,000 The Environmental Research program provides funding for applied research in priority environmental themes to help address contemporary environmental problems in NSW.

The objectives of the program are to: increase knowledge and advance techniques to solve priority environmental problems in NSW assess and test application of innovative solutions to decrease environmental degradation in NSW discover new methods of operation for NSW industries that are less harmful to the environment. This program is administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

This program is funded by NSW Environmental Trust. Applicants must demonstrate that they have the capability to undertake the applied research. See the Program Guidelines (PDF 1.

38MB) for an extensive list of eligible applicants. Applicants must also include relevant collaborators and end-users as project partners for the proposed research. Collaborators are partners who can help deliver the project.

End-users are partners who will use the research findings in a meaningful way. See the Program Guidelines (PDF 1. 38MB) for more information on collaborators and end-users.

We offer grants to eligible applicants who work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders. Eligible applicants include: government agencies (including councils) incorporated community organisations or groups Local Aboriginal Land Councils. research funding institutes profit-distributing entities.

Types of projects funded under this grant The plan is informed by extensive research and stakeholder consultation. The strategic priorities are: prioritise healthy Country and recognise and value Aboriginal peoples, their traditional knowledge and practices, and connection to Country restore ecosystems and biodiversity strengthen environmental management. See the Program Guidelines (PDF 1.

38MB) for more information on aligning project proposals with priority themes. Administration costs that exceed 10% of the total grant See eligible activities for definition of eligible administration costs. Core business Projects that, in the normal course of events, are clearly the core business of local or state government authorities or educational institutions.

‘Core business’ can be difficult to define as it varies by organisation, but generally, it is considered as the essential business or legal responsibility of an organisation. The Trust will consider funding works that are related to core business but additional to the organisation’s usual work or responsibilities.

Capital expenditure Infrastructure and large capital item purchases (e.g., vehicles, construction, buildings, machinery, amenities). Small capital equipment purchases are allowed where it can be demonstrated to be more cost effective to purchase than to lease for the life of the project. Costs for capital items should generally not exceed 20% of the total project budget.

Devolved grants Projects that fund devolved grants (i.e., projects offering grants to other organisations). Trust funds must be managed directly by the lead organisation, and all financial transactions must be managed in line with the approved budget and Grantee Guide to Procurement Existing commitments Ongoing research to which organisations have committed to as part of a previous grant or their core business operations.

Cost shifting Reimbursement of salaries of existing staff who will be supervising or working on the project unless it can be demonstrated that salaries have not already been budgeted for (See examples in Developing your EOI and Invited Application Guide). Cost recoupment Funding cannot be used on any activities that have commenced before the grant is offered and accepted, including application development.

Activities should commence in May–June 2024. Data collection without application Surveys to gather data or information on subject matter which is not used to develop research outcomes or tangible environmental outcomes. Commercialisation of existing technologies Proposals seeking to use funds to commercialise existing technologies.

Fundamental research Proposals that do not involve applied research. Projects with no end-user identified. Using mosquito DNA for detecting the occurrence of native mammals in semi-arid refuges.

GPS-tracking the endangered Hastings River mouse to assess fine-scale habitat use. Manipulating plant odour to protect threatened plants from mammalian herbivores. Developing a pilot biosensor that uses machine learning to identify wildlife acoustically.

Restoring a disease impacted threatened frog in the wild Approved for University of Canberra Test two new methods to help threatened frogs survive chytrid fungus and support recovery. Green and golden bell frogs will be reintroduced to their last upland habitat, with one trial creating conditions favourable to frogs but detrimental to pathogens, and another immunising frogs before release.

Environmental Trust Board Date approved July 2026 Location of the project Carwoola 2620 Location of the recipient Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Environmental Research 2025 Agency funding this grant NSW Environmental Trust Program term Outsmarting foxes using their own scents Approved for Charles Sturt University Decode fox scent chemistry to develop more effective control strategies.

With foxes killing over 300 million native animals each year, this project will analyse urine compounds to create and test artificially enhanced lures, supporting targeted, sustainable wildlife management.

Environmental Trust Board Date approved May 2026 Location of the project Wagga Wagga 2650 Location of the recipient Environmental Research 2025 Agency funding this grant NSW Environmental Trust Program term Social and ecological impacts of Caring for Country through cultural burning in the Durumbura Dhurabang (Lane Cove River) catchment.

Approved for Macquarie University Compare Dharug women-led cultural burning with hazard reduction practices in the Durumbura Dhurabang (Lane Cove River), monitoring soil, vegetation, leaf litter and wildlife. The project will also assess cultural practices alongside mainstream fire management to support Indigenous-led land care.

Environmental Trust Board Date approved May 2026 Location of the project Lane Cove 2066 Location of the recipient Environmental Research 2025 Agency funding this grant NSW Environmental Trust Program term University of New England The movement ecology of Brolga (Grus rubicunda) in NSW wetlands: the impacts of both natural fluctuations and environmental water delivery Approved for University of New England Provide critical data to manage the threatened, culturally significant Brolga.

Work with First Nations people across four river catchments to track GPS tagged birds, conduct wetland surveys and acoustic monitoring, to inform environmental water management and improve Brolga resilience.

Environmental Trust Board Date approved May 2026 Location of the project Bourke 2840 Location of the recipient Environmental Research 2025 Agency funding this grant NSW Environmental Trust Program term Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) Demonstrating the Siphon Fishway for restoring biodiversity and conserving water Approved for Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) Small barriers like weirs and dams block fish migration and contribute to native fish declines.

This project will test an innovative pipe fishway - a cheaper alternative to traditional fishways - for species such as eels, bass and gudgeons, to help restore waterways and rebuild fish populations.

Environmental Trust Board Date approved April 2026 Location of the project Mangrove Creek 2250 Location of the recipient Environmental Research 2025 Agency funding this grant NSW Environmental Trust Program term What your application needs to include The program has a 2-stage application process.

Stage 1 – Expression of Interest EOIs must be registered and submitted in the online Grants Management System (GMS), available on the program webpage and must meet the following conditions: Projects must aim to commence between 1 May 2026 and 30 June 2026. Projects must end no later than 31 July 2029.

It is recommended that EOIs are developed in the online GMS environment (rather than downloading and working with it offline) to take advantage of ‘pop-up’ guidance and embedded drop-down menus. Collaboration on a proposal with project partners is possible by providing editing rights. Please refer to the Grants Management System Online Portal User Manual – Section 4.

2. 6 Manage access to application. Address the eligibility criteria Each proposal requires a lead applicant.

The lead applicant should be either the research body or an identified end-user of the research (see Part 3: What research can be funded?) Lead organisations must be based in NSW and/or be able to demonstrate the potential environmental benefits to New South Wales. If successful in securing a grant, the lead applicant will hold primary responsibility for the delivery of the project.

This includes administration and finance requirements, and the performance of collaborators.

The following organisations are eligible to apply as the lead applicant: state government agencies and/or statutory committees community organisations or groups incorporated associations/non-profit organisations non–commercial cooperatives regional organisation of councils other local government-controlled organisations companies limited by guarantee Local Aboriginal Land Councils.

Unincorporated not-for-profit organisations may apply but will need the support of another organisation who will perform the role of External Manager. Start your application: Environmental research | Funding and support | Environment and Heritage . You can download the full grant guidelines: Environmental Research Grants Program guidelines 2025 (PDF 1.

38MB) After the application is submitted Successful applications will be decided by: NSW Environmental Trust The applications will be assessed and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified. Email: info@environmentaltrust. nsw.

gov.au The Environmental Trust has all its contestable grants programs independently evaluated to assess their effectiveness.