Mt Burr
Launching the “NGT Foundation” is a major step towards securing the future of Nature Glenelg Trust’s reserves in the Green Triangle region. Source: Timberbiz
Since the Nature Glenelg Trust began in January 2012, the organisation has secured three strategically located reserves in the Green Triangle region of SA and Victoria:
- Eaglehawk Waterhole in December 2013, 1700 acres near Frances;
- Mt Burr Swamp in September 2016, 750 acres near Glencoe; and,
- Kurrawonga, announced in March 2018, 100 acres near Nelson.
The launch of the NGT Foundation is the latest initiative to stem from the long-term partnership between OneFortyOne Plantations (OFO) and Nature Glenelg Trust.
Nature Glenelg Trust Manager Mark Bachmann said this announcement is extremely significant and very timely.
“The NGT Foundation is about establishing a long-term means for Nature Glenelg Trust to sustainably finance the ongoing management costs of our growing network of private nature reserves – the single biggest challenge for environmental organisations that look after reserved land,” Mr Bachmann said.
OneFortyOne’s Willie van Niekerk is proud of OFO’s continuing relationship with the Trust and that it plays a role in the Foundation’s establishment.
“OFO is committed to continuing its investment in the Green Triangle and we believe the NGT Foundation will help to deliver significant and long term sustainable environmental benefits,” Mr van Niekerk said.
Kick-started by the first of three initial annual contributions of $20,000 from OneFortyOne Plantations, Nature Glenelg Trust will now seek other contributions to grow the balance of the Foundation over the years ahead.
The funding will make sure that the community can be confident that NGT will follow-through on its vision for its reserves.
Mr Bachmann said the philosophy behind the Foundation is quite simple. “Contributions to the Foundation will be preserved and never touched,” he said. “Then in the future, when the balance has grown to a sufficient level, NGT will be able to derive a sustainable annual income from investment returns to enable us to look after our network of reserves in perpetuity.
“In this way, every $20 donated to the Foundation, will eventually generate $1 in income, every year, to help us actively manage important areas like Mt Burr Swamp and Kurrawonga into the future. With this long-term plan in mind, it is clear that every contribution counts.”
Tax-deductible donations to the NGT Foundation can be made by visiting www.ngt.org.au, emailing [email protected] or by calling the NGT regional office on 08 8797 8596, or Jess Bourchier directly on 0428 217 249.
