Nine local groups, five local government areas and 30 landholders will share in this funding.

Federal Member for Calare, the Hon John Cobb said the projects in Calare include a range of activities such as protecting threatened species, ecological communities, and improving groundcover and sustainable agriculture practices across the region.

Mr Cobb visited one of the project sites in Yetholme this week impressed by the work planned this year to protect the Purple Copper Butterfly.

"It's great to see the National Landcare Programme supporting local landcare networks and other community-based groups to protect the natural assets of our local community so we can enjoy them into the future"

"The Government is ensuring the National Landcare Programme grants are invested locally to deliver real change to safeguard productive capacity of our land for the future"

"This is crucial because farmers, landcarers and community groups know what works best for their properties, environment and their communities", John Cobb said.

The Australian Government is investing $2 billion to help support better natural resource management across Australia.

As part of this commitment $1 billion will be invested through the National Landcare Programme, including more than $450 million directed in regional funding through to Australia's 56 natural resource management organisations.

Central Tablelands LLS' announced funding is part of its commitment to invest over 20 per cent of its National Landcare Programme funding to help support local projects as well as other local community engagement activities.

For more information about the National Landcare Programme go to www.nrm.gov.au