Fragile Alpine region ecosystems hit hard by bushfires and ongoing damage from hard hooved feral animals will be the beneficiary of a $8 million federal funding injection.
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Victoria's high country suffered extensive damage in last summer's fires, but further damage is being done by deer, pigs and horses roaming the region in big numbers.
Federal Environment Minister and Farrer MP Sussan Ley said recovery efforts would focus on rehabilitating the habitat of threatened species like the Northern and Southern Corroboree Frog through feral animal control, weed control and threatened species management.
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"More than 570,000 hectares of habitat was burnt in the bushfires across the Australian Alpine region and since then, the land has struggled to regenerate because of feral animals like deer, pigs and horses," she said.
"Feral animals, particularly heavy hooved animals, pose great threats to our smaller native wildlife which are at constant risk of trampling or having their habitat destroyed by trampling."
It follows a workshop in September by traditional owners Landcare groups, scientists, natural resource management regions from across the ACT, NSW and Victoria.
"These bushfire recovery actions have been locally identified and will be community led. I'm proud to be part of a government that is putting Indi first, backing the initiatives of locals here in the North East," Victorian Senator Jane Hume said.
The federal government has already invested $3.1 million in high country areas on weed and pest control, and activities supporting the long-term survival of threatened species including the Mountain Pygmy Possum, Broad-toothed Rat, Southern Corroboree Frog and Smoky Mouse.
