The Local Land Service is one of four organisations to share $3.7 million in NSW grant funding to undertake a threatened species conservation project that spans 10 years under the second round of the state government’s Saving Our Species Partnership grants program.

“The land services’ Turtles Forever project aims to secure the entire Bell’s Turtle population in NSW,” Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said.

“The turtle is only found in the upper reaches of the Namoi, Gwydir and Macdonald Rivers, digging its nests in the sandbank of the rivers in the spring and summer.

“The $985,000 project will focus on the three population clusters across the Northern Tablelands and one northeast of Tamworth. Bell’s Turtles are listed as vulnerable in NSW.

“This project brings together a group of experts to manage, protect and monitor key sites in each of the four main Bell’s Turtle populations in NSW.

“Landholders, sniffer dogs and volunteers will all be engaged to support this effort.

“I congratulate the LLS on securing these funds and look forward to seeing the project get underway.”

Mr Speakman said the grants program aimed to help stop the decline of biodiversity and protect the state’s threatened species into the future.

“These projects are important to help protect and stabilise local populations under threat,” Mr Speakman said.

“The grants program gets the best bang for the taxpayer’s buck because it brings researchers, the community, land management experts and the government together to protect the state’s most vulnerable species.”