Natural Heritage Trust
An Australian Government environmental investment framework funding conservation, sustainable agriculture and natural-resource management.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), formally associated with the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Account, is an Australian Government funding framework established in 1997 to conserve, repair and replenish the country’s natural capital. Rather than being a conventional consumer-facing brand or standalone operating company, it is a public program and statutory account through which government funding is directed toward environmental protection, sustainable agriculture and natural-resource management. The Trust was created under the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997. Its initial capital came from A$1.35 billion associated with the partial sale of Telstra. The legislation required money in the account to be used for environmental and natural-resource purposes. Funding was delivered through national, state, regional and community-level initiatives, including support for natural-resource management organisations and local environmental groups. The program’s design connected federal environment and agriculture policy, with a Natural Heritage Ministerial Board created to facilitate coordination between the responsible ministers. During its early period, the NHT supported projects addressing biodiversity conservation, land degradation, salinity, water quality, sustainable farming and community stewardship. The Envirofund provided a community-oriented delivery mechanism, while the Trust also contributed to broader regional natural-resource management arrangements. It became a major source of support for projects implemented through regional bodies and partnerships among governments, Indigenous organisations, community groups, farmers, researchers and non-government organisations. From 2008, many activities previously associated with the NHT were incorporated into Caring for our Country. That initiative built on the Trust’s foundations and brought together or coordinated programs such as Landcare, the Environmental Stewardship Program, National Wildlife Corridors and Working on Country. Caring for our Country was structured around improving environmental health, resilience and ecosystem services while supporting sustainable land management. Its first phase operated from July 2008 to June 2013, followed by a second phase. In 2013, the Australian Government announced that Caring for our Country would be combined with the National Landcare Program. The resulting framework, commonly described as Caring for our Country 2013–2018 and later as the National Landcare Program, used environmental and sustainable-agriculture streams to deliver funding. The revised National Landcare Program announced in 2014 committed approximately A$1 billion over four years from 2014–15 to 2017–18, while the second phase of the program began in July 2017 and was planned to run through June 2023. The Trust account also supported related activities such as Reef Plan 2050 and Indigenous Protected Areas. The NHT’s policy scope includes vegetation loss, soil degradation, invasive weeds and animals, deteriorating water quality and flows, and changing fire regimes. Its work is connected to Australia’s network of regional natural-resource management bodies, including regions originally shaped by assessments under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. The account’s operation is subject to annual reporting requirements under the 1997 Act. As a public funding mechanism, its practical identity has changed over time as successive governments have reorganised delivery programs, but the underlying purpose remains long-term environmental stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s land, water and biodiversity assets.
History
The Natural Heritage Trust was created in 1997 through the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997. Its stated purpose was to conserve, repair and replenish Australia’s natural capital infrastructure. The account was capitalised using proceeds associated with the partial sale of Telstra, and legislation directed its resources toward environmental protection, sustainable agriculture and natural-resource management. In its initial form, the Trust distributed support at several levels. National and state programs operated alongside regional natural-resource management arrangements and community grants, including Envirofund. Projects covered biodiversity, land degradation, salinity, water quality, sustainable farming and local conservation activities. The model relied on partnerships among federal and state governments, regional management organisations, community groups, farmers, Indigenous organisations and environmental bodies. The Trust also helped finance projects connected with the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. That plan operated from 2000–01 and supported priority regions identified through assessments of salinity, water quality and opportunities for preventative action. The resulting regional structure contributed to the development of Australia’s network of natural-resource management regions. In 2008, the delivery of many NHT-related activities shifted into Caring for our Country. The new initiative brought together or built on several programs, including Landcare, the Environmental Stewardship Program, National Wildlife Corridors and Working on Country. Its first phase ran from July 2008 to June 2013 and pursued goals relating to healthier ecosystems, improved protection, resilient landscapes and the maintenance of ecosystem services in a changing climate. A second phase was announced in 2013. Caring for our Country was combined with the National Landcare Program, producing a delivery model organised around sustainable-environment and sustainable-agriculture streams. In 2014, the government announced approximately A$1 billion for the revised National Landcare Program over four years from 2014–15 to 2017–18. The second phase of the National Landcare Program began in July 2017 and was planned to continue until June 2023. Related initiatives included 20 Million Trees, support for regional NRM organisations, Reef Plan 2050 and Indigenous Protected Areas. Governance is coordinated through the Natural Heritage Ministerial Board, established by the 1997 Act as a liaison mechanism between the ministers responsible for environment and agriculture. The Board supports the design and delivery of jointly managed programs financed through the account and oversees related activities. The Act also requires an annual report on the operation of the account. Although its visible programs and administrative arrangements have changed over time, the NHT remains an Australian Government funding framework for conservation, sustainable land use and natural-resource management.
- 2020
NHT account supports National Landcare Program Phase Two
[1]The account was reported as funding Phase Two of the National Landcare Program, addressing vegetation loss, soil degradation, invasive species, water issues and changing fire regimes.
- 2017
Second phase of the National Landcare Program begins
[1]The second phase of the National Landcare Program commenced, continuing the NHT-linked approach to regional environmental and agricultural investment.
- 2014
Revised National Landcare Program announced
[1]A four-year National Landcare framework was announced, incorporating support for Landcare networks, regional NRM organisations and major environmental projects.
- 2013
Second phase and Landcare integration announced
[1]The government announced a second phase of Caring for our Country and its combination with the National Landcare Program.
- 2008
Caring for our Country begins
[1]Many NHT activities were incorporated into Caring for our Country, a broader framework integrating environmental and sustainable-land-management initiatives.
- 2000
Salinity and water-quality partnerships begin
[1]The Trust participated in funding associated with the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, which shaped later regional natural-resource management arrangements.
- 1997
Natural Heritage Trust created
[1]The Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 established the Trust and its account, with an objective focused on protecting and restoring Australia’s natural capital.
Products and positioning
A long-term Australian public investment platform for environmental conservation, sustainable land management and community-led natural-resource management.
Environmental funding · 1997
Natural Heritage Trust grants
Funding delivered through national, state, regional and community channels for environmental protection, sustainable agriculture and natural-resource management. Supported activities have included habitat restoration, biodiversity work, land-management improvements, salinity responses, water-quality projects and community conservation.
Community conservation funding
Envirofund
A community-oriented delivery mechanism associated with the Trust that provided support for local environmental and natural-resource management projects undertaken by community groups and organisations.
Land and water management program · 1992
National Landcare Program
A major NHT-linked funding framework supporting Landcare networks, regional natural-resource management organisations, sustainable agriculture and environmental outcomes. Its later phases continued and reorganised elements previously delivered through Caring for our Country.
Integrated environmental program · 2008
Caring for our Country
A program introduced in 2008 that built on NHT foundations and brought together initiatives including Landcare, environmental stewardship, wildlife corridors and Indigenous ranger-related work. It later merged operationally with the National Landcare Program.
Marine and catchment conservation
Reef Plan 2050 support
NHT account funding supported related government work under Reef Plan 2050, the long-term sustainability framework for the Great Barrier Reef and its connected catchments.
Indigenous conservation partnership
Indigenous Protected Areas support
The Trust account supported Indigenous Protected Areas and associated conservation activity, linking Indigenous stewardship and cultural knowledge with national biodiversity and land-management objectives.
Brand decisions
2014
Adopt the revised National Landcare funding modelStrategyBackground
The government redesigned the delivery of Caring for our Country and Landcare-related investment.
Action taken
The revised National Landcare Program was announced with approximately A$1 billion over four years from 2014–15 to 2017–18.
Aftermath
The model retained broadly similar environmental and natural-resource objectives, although the regional funding stream was reduced and the change drew concern from a Senate committee.
National Landcare Program Phase One allocation. Approximately A$1 billion (2014–15 to 2017–18)
2013
Combine Caring for our Country with the National Landcare ProgramStrategyBackground
The government reviewed the structure of environmental and sustainable-agriculture grants after the first phase of Caring for our Country.
Action taken
A second phase was announced, with delivery organised through sustainable-environment and sustainable-agriculture streams and aligned with the National Landcare Program.
Aftermath
The combined framework became the principal channel for continuing NHT-related investment in regional land, water and environmental management.
First-year Phase Two Caring for our Country payments. A$316.7 million (2013–14)
2008
Transfer major delivery activity into Caring for our CountryStrategyBackground
The government sought to consolidate and coordinate multiple environmental and natural-resource management programs.
Action taken
Many activities associated with the Natural Heritage Trust became part of Caring for our Country.
Aftermath
NHT objectives continued through a broader integrated program alongside Landcare, environmental stewardship, wildlife corridors and Working on Country.
1997
Create a dedicated natural-capital investment accountStrategyBackground
The Australian Government established the Trust in response to the need for coordinated national investment in environmental repair, conservation and sustainable resource use.
Action taken
The Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 created the Trust and directed account funds toward environmental, sustainable-agriculture and natural-resource management purposes.
Aftermath
The Trust became a long-term funding source for government, regional and community conservation initiatives.
Initial capital associated with partial Telstra sale. A$1.35 billion (1997)
Recent events
- 2015
Senate committee raises concerns about reduced Landcare funding[1]
Regulation · Other
A Senate Standing Committee report on Landcare considered that reduced forward funding could adversely affect natural-resource management in Australia, although other government programs provided supplementary investment.
- 2014
National Landcare Program receives revised four-year framework[1]
Other
A revised National Landcare Program was announced with approximately A$1 billion in funding over four years, supporting Landcare networks, regional natural-resource management organisations and environmental projects.
- 2013
Caring for our Country combined with the National Landcare Program[1]
Other
The Australian Government announced a new delivery structure combining Caring for our Country and the National Landcare Program, with separate sustainable-environment and sustainable-agriculture streams.
- 2008
Natural Heritage Trust activities incorporated into Caring for our Country[1]
Other
A number of activities associated with the Trust became part of the newly established Caring for our Country initiative, which integrated several environmental and land-management programs.
- 1997
Natural Heritage Trust established by Australian legislation[1]
Other
The Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 established the Trust and its account as a vehicle for funding environmental protection, sustainable agriculture and natural-resource management.
Sources2 sources
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