Funding opportunities - Deddick Valley nature market

Restoring Country
in the
Deddick Valley

Invest in ecological and
cultural restoration

We are restoring grassy woodland ecosystems on First Nations-owned land in the Deddick Valley, alongside the Snowy River National Park.

This project is already underway, led by First Nations Elder and Gunnai Kurnai Croajingalong man Uncle David ‘Buzzy’ Hewat, and registered under the Accounting for Nature® framework to track measurable improvements in ecosystem condition. Cultural land management practices, including traditional burning, have already been reintroduced.

We are seeking aligned corporate partners to scale this work. The current phase of implementation requires $150,000 in catalytic investment to drive long-term ecological uplift and support First Nations governance on Country.

Visit our corporate website to learn more about the Healthy Forests Foundation

The opportunity

Invest in ecological and cultural restoration across 100+ ha of grassy woodland
Support First Nations people to lead the implementation of cultural fire, invasive species control, and habitat recovery.
Deliver reportable outcomes against leading environmental and social performance standards.
Participate in a project that is already generating environmental accounting data and impact metrics.
Demonstrate leadership in nature-positive investment, reconciliation, and ESG-aligned action.

Activities include:

Grassy woodland health planning: Complete and implement an integrated ecological restoration plan co-led by Traditional Owners.
Fire risk mitigation and cultural burning: Deliver seasonally safe, culturally governed fire to protect biodiversity and reduce hazards.
Invasive species control: Coordinate targeted pest plants and animal control.
Biodiversity uplift: Restore native groundcover and habitat complexity, supporting endangered and threatened species.
Monitoring and reporting: Measure change through culturally informed methods and science-based evaluation (i.e. Accounting for Nature®).

Why the Deddick Valley matters

The Deddick Valley is an ecologically significant area that supports a diverse range of threatened species and rare habitats.

Bordering the Snowy River National park, the culturally rich landscapes are home to multiple forest types and threatened species, including the spotted-tail quoll, brush-tailed rock-wallaby, and several rare alpine trees and plants such as the Deddick blue box and the Blakely’s red gum.

The area is owned and cared for by First Nations people who are restoring their relationship to Country through traditional land management. Yet like much of the region, it faces complex ecological challenges stemming from colonisation, suppression of cultural fire, and invasive species.

With the right support, this project will restore ecological function, regenerate native species, and strengthen cultural stewardship for future generations.

Spotted-tailed quoll in the Deddick Valley, photo provided by Uncle David 'Buzzy' Hewat

Strategic investment value

Project cost

$150,000 for implementation phase

ASF taxonomy mapping

A4.1, A5.1, A2.9, A9.1, Support Services

First Nations leadership

Supports cultural fire, governance, and Country-based planning by First Nations people

Nature and climate impact

Registered under Accounting for Nature®; tracks measurable improvements in ecosystem condition and fire resilience

ESG-aligned delivery

Culturally governed, science-informed, and reportable through environmental and social metrics

Reputation and brand trust

Public-facing storytelling, values alignment, and reconciliation in action

What your investment enables

Restoration of forest and grassland health across a large-scale cultural landscape
Capacity and training support for First Nations people to lead project delivery
Co-development of biodiversity and climate credit opportunities
Cultural authority that is embedded in all aspects of governance, planning, and implementation

ESG and SDG alignment

SDG-alignment

10 | Reduced inequalities

Empowers First Nations people through employment, governance, and leadership on Country

11 | Sustainable communities

Strengthens regional communities through locally led cultural and ecological land management

12 | Responsible production

Encourages nature-positive investment and regenerative land use, grounded in cultural stewardship

13 | Climate action

Builds fire resilience and sequesters carbon through ecosystem restoration and cultural fire practices

15 | Life on land

Protects and restores high-value habitats and biodiversity across multiple ecosystems

16 | Strong institutions

Embeds cultural governance and supports just, place-based decision-making

17 | Partnerships

Offers scalable models for public–private–Indigenous collaboration and impact

TNFD and ISSB

Aligned with leading frameworks for nature and sustainability disclosure.

Partner with us

We invite forward-thinking corporate partners to co-invest in this catalytic initiative.

Whether you fund the project in full, contribute alongside others, or support specific components, we offer flexible and transparent investment pathways.

We also work with your team to tailor reporting, align with your ESG frameworks, and build a shared narrative of impact.

Strengthening efforts through alignment

By investing in the Deddick Valley, your organisation contributes to a measurable restoration effort that centres First Nations leadership, delivers biodiversity uplift, and models nature-positive, values-driven land management.

Let’s restore Country – together.