Where do your donations go?
THE TREAT ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT FUND

In March 2000, TREAT established a public fund—the TREAT Environmental Benefit Fund (EBF), which is registered with the Commonwealth Governments Register of Environmental Organizations and is an approved charitable fund. Donations over $2 are tax deductible and can be claimed as charitable gifts in the donor’s tax returns.

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The fund is managed by a separate committee which is set up under Commonwealth Government approval. Its accounts are audited annual and submitted to the Government. The committee also publicly reports on the management of the fund. 

The fund provides for various activities directly related to revegetation projects.

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What Happens to Your Donations?

The main objective of the Environmental Benefit Fund is to support the environmental objectives of TREAT. This monetary support has taken on many aspects from supplementing the shortfall of resources necessary to complete planting projects to upgrading administration infrastructure and improving volunteers' safety and comfort whilst working. 

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​In some cases agency funding for planting projects only pays for getting trees in the ground. Site maintenance—weeding, fertilizing, frost protection and irrigation—is vital until trees have achieved canopy cover. Pasture grass and legume vines in particular can quickly smother young plants. They need to be controlled by spraying for the first three years and until canopy closure is achieved. TREAT employs certified contractors to apply the appropriate herbicide to undertake this control.

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Through the EBF, TREAT has been able to purchase tree guards to reduce the impact of frosts, and to install irrigation to mitigate against drought. These acquisitions have greatly reduced tree mortality or growth setback. With fewer tree losses, there is less need for in-fill planting.

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​Most revegetation sites are on private landholders' properties and it is with their generosity that TREAT is able to continue. Since most replanting sites follow waterways TREAT, using the EBF, arranges fencing to protect seedlings.  TREAT, in some cases, installs fences to allow for emergency watering points for landowner's livestock.