Billionaire couple donates $120 million to conservation groups

Perth billionaires Alexandra and Julian Burt have contributed a combined $120 million to ten conservation groups spread across Australia, according to wire material. The Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) received $25 million, which it believes will aid in managing 5% of Australia's land mass. This significant donation is the largest ever received by multiple conservation groups, allowing them to expand operations.

AWC's southern regional ecologist, Rebecca Diete, expressed that the grant was far beyond their usual budget constraints. The organization's aim to manage 5% of Australia's land, an area equivalent to Germany, seems now feasible due to the generous donation. The AWC collaborates with landowners and acquires properties to restore ecosystems and reintroduce native wildlife.

One project led by the AWC's bat specialist, Oli Aylen, will benefit from the donation, as it will facilitate research on bats, a group of mammals often overlooked in conservation efforts. Bush Heritage Australia also received $25 million, which the organization's science and conservation boss Bruce Webber described as "completely transformative".

This funding will be used to acquire a 20,000-hectare cattle station near Cairns, which the Bush Heritage considers its most ambitious single acquisition ever. The Burt family, including Alexandra, have a combined net worth of $4.2 billion, with Alexandra's grandfather being the business partner of Gina Rinehart's father, Lang Hancock.

The donation highlights a contrast between the Burt family's views and Gina Rinehart's. Alexandra Burt stated in a statement that the donation felt like the right thing to do, expressing concern over the rapid decline of Australia's natural environment.