Google.org believes maps are a powerful tool for non-profits of all kinds to communicate issues, understand needs, and create more effective implementation plans. Many of you have come to Google.org with compelling ways that maps can help you and your organisation increase impact, and Google.org wants to help you make your mapping ideas a reality. They’re offering a pilot program of Geo Challenge Grants to organisations working in areas related to their core initiatives, which are: Develop Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal, RechargeIT, Predict and Prevent, Inform and Empower to Improve Public Services, and Fuel the Growth of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
Geo Challenge Grants proposals must be submitted by 22 December 2008. However, Google.org intends to have future submission rounds in the coming year, so if you miss this deadline, stay tuned for details of the next round.
Google.org aspires to use the power of information and technology to address the global challenges of our age: climate change, poverty and emerging disease.
Thursday 30 April – Friday 1 May 2009
Halls Gap, The Grampians, Victoria
Are you interested in conserving native flora and fauna on your land? Do you have a management agreement or covenant over some of your land? Do you participate in conservation activities on local public land? Are you part of a network linking conservation across the landscape? Do you receive any support or are incentives available to assist your efforts?
The Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) 2nd National Forum will focus on conservation outside the formal reserve system, whether on small blocks or large landscape level efforts or cross-tenure projects. It will highlight the people and places involved and investigate the incentives and support available. The forum will include presentations, case studies, facilitated discussion sessions and field visits to project sites.
For further information visit ANPC conferences or contact the ANPC office on 02 6250 9509.
On Sunday 28 September 2008, 150 survey volunteers worked with 30 volunteer Team Leaders to survey five Sydney parks for their plants and wildlife over a 24 hour period. The species data collected for the City of Sydney included 398 new records (some species types were recorded at more than one location or time). The data includes 189 different species. The results have been forwarded to the City of Sydney Council to assist with future park management plans. The species results are now available here.
With a geographical spread representing approximately 70 per cent of Australia’s office space, CitySwitch Green Office works with tenants to improve office energy efficiency, thereby reducing the CO2 emissions attributed to global warming. One of the main reasons for choosing this way to save energy is that tenants can influence up to 50 percent of total energy use in office buildings.
CitySwitch Green Office is a national tenant energy management program run in partnership between the cities of Sydney, North Sydney, Parramatta, Willoughby, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane and state government agencies, the Department of Environment & Climate Change NSW and Sustainability Victoria.
To help you find out more about the Caring for our Country investment priorities, what this means for your organisation and how to submit an investment proposal, the Australian Government is running a series of Caring for our Country information sessions where you can get more details about the 2009-10 business plan and put your questions to the Australian Government.
The Australian Government has approved a total of over $22.5 million for activities under Caring for our Country Community Coastcare 2008-09. Proposals for funding had been sought against two of the six national priority areas, and particularly for activities that would be: