A record number of groups have submitted applications for the Responsible Wood Community Grants Program.
Responsible Wood received 22 applications, which is better than the record number of applications (18) from the program’s first year.
It is also more than last year’s applications (17) and is the first year the program has received nominations from groups in every state and territory where Responsible Wood has a certified forest.
Responsible Wood’s Community Grant Coordinator, Jason Ross, has been impressed with the response from the community “with ten different Responsible Wood-certified forests supporting submissions.”
He said that besides having a record number of submissions, “it’s a high point for the number of Responsible Wood-certified forests supporting submissions, and we now have a healthy spread of projects across the country.”
The program aims to support local communities in developing, designing and implementing small community-based projects in their local area in conjunction with their local Responsible Wood certified forestry company.
Since August 2020, more than $140,000 has been allocated to Australian community groups connected to Responsible Wood-certified forests.
For 2023/24, Responsible Wood will provide grants of between $2,000 and $15,000 to community groups across Australia, with a total of $40,000 to be made available for the program.
“Significantly, 19 of the 22 groups that have applied are new to the program, meaning that Responsible Wood has now connected with 72 different community groups since the program’s development,” Mr Ross said.
Applications will be assessed by an expert panel, including Dr Kerrie Catchpoole, director of Responsible Wood, Emily Silberberg, Global Mark’s Forestry Program Manager and Jacqui Martin, CEO of Forestry Australia.
Mr Ross reports that it will be the first time three women in forestry will lead the judging.
An announcement of successful applicants is expected in December, with projects to be completed by the end of May 2021.
For more information, please visit the Responsible Wood Community Grants webpage and direct all enquiries to communitygrants@responsiblewood.org.au
