Victoria & the Southern Coast Nature Nonprofits

The southern coast of Australia faces the Southern Ocean with nothing between it and Antarctica, and the weather that arrives has crossed a great deal of cold water to get here. Victoria packs an improbable range into a small state: the wet mountain ash forests of the ranges, home to the tallest flowering trees on Earth, giving way to grassy plains and then to a coast of limestone stacks and cold, wild surf.

The mountain ash forests are worth pausing on. They grow to a hundred meters, they store more carbon per hectare than almost any forest measured anywhere, and they depend on catastrophic fire to regenerate, which puts them in an uncomfortable position as fire seasons intensify. In their hollows lives Leadbeater’s possum, an animal so elusive it was presumed extinct for half a century before it turned up again.

The organizations here defend those ash forests and the water catchments within them that supply Melbourne, restore the grassy plains that European agriculture almost entirely erased, and protect a coastline of extraordinary marine life. They also carry the long, unfinished work of reckoning with fire in a landscape where fire is both destroyer and necessity.

Environmental Organizations in This Bioregion

95 organizations working across this landscape.

Action for Dolphins

Melbourne

The aim of AFD is to stop cruelty to, and gain legal protection for, small cetaceans (dolphins and other small whales).

Wildlife Biodiversity

Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)

Carlton

A pollution and extinction crisis is threatening our living world. Climate damage and habitat destruction are our biggest challenges. We’re living with the consequen...

Wildlife BiodiversityClimate Energy

Australian Legal Sector Alliance

Melbourne

A collaboration of Australian law firms working together to improve their sustainability

Environmental JusticeOther

Australian Youth Climate Coalition

Carlton

AYCC is Australia's largest youth-led organisation, building a generation-wide movement of young people leading solutions to the climate crisis.

Climate EnergyWaste Circular Economy

Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group Mt Martha Inc (BERG Mt Martha)

Mt. Martha
Water Rivers

Bay leaf community kitchen

Breakwater

Bay leaf kitchen provides nutritious meals from families experiencing hardship. There are many diverse problems associated with relieving hunger and our innovative a...

Sustainable Food AgricultureEnvironmental Justice

Beyond Zero Emissions

East Melbourne

Beyond Zero Emissions is an independent think tank focussed on developing ambitious solutions that accelerate Australia towards a zero-emissions economy.

Climate EnergyEnvironmental Justice

Bicycle Network

Melbourne

## We believe in liveable places where people are physically active – that’s why we make it easier to ride a bike.

Climate EnergyOther

BirdLife Australia

Carlton

BirdLife Australia is Australia's leading bird conservation organisation. We work tirelessly to recover native bird species and restore local environments.

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Black Duck Foods Ltd

Genoa
Sustainable Food Agriculture

Bungalook Creek Wildlife Shelter

Mount Evelyn

Bungalook Creek Wildlife Shelter is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with biodiversity & wildlife. Based in Mount Evelyn, Victoria, Australia,...

Wildlife Biodiversity

Bush Heritage Australia

Melbourne

Conservation land management

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

CERES

Brunswick

CERES is an exists to help people fall in love with the Earth again.

Climate EnergySustainable Food Agriculture

Children’s Ground

Melbourne

Children's Ground is led by First Nations communities in Australia who are on their traditional lands and creating a different future for their children.

Land Conservation

Climate 200

Richmond

Supporting political candidates committed to a science-based approach to climate change and to restoring integrity in politics.

Climate Energy

Collective Fashion Justice

Northcote

Our charity exists to create a total ethics fashion system prioritising people, our fellow animals and the planet before profit.

Wildlife BiodiversityEducation Advocacy

Conservation Ecology Centre

Cape Otway

The Conservation Ecology Centre works collaboratively and innovatively to develop and deliver solutions to the most urgent conservation challenges in the Otways regi...

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Conservation Volunteers Australia

Ballarat

Empowering people to take action for nature since 1982.

Wildlife BiodiversityClimate Energy

Cultivating Community

Melbourne

Cultivating Community creates equitable access to: sustainable urban green places; strong social connections; and, opportunities to thrive​​.

Sustainable Food AgricultureOutdoor Recreation Access

Daughters of the Deep

Kensington

Equalising the Ocean by closing the gender gap within maritime industries.

Marine OceansEnvironmental Justice

Dolphin Research Institute

Hastings
Wildlife Biodiversity

Effective Altruism Australia Environment

Doncaster

The company is based on the principles of Effective Altruism which is a philosophy and social movement that applies evidence and reason to determine the most effecti...

Climate EnergyOther

Environmental Justice Australia

Melbourne

Our mission is to ensure the legal system delivers environmental justice for communities and protects and regenerates nature.

Land ConservationClimate Energy

Environment Victoria

Melbourne
Water RiversClimate Energy

Euroa Arboretum

Euroa

Leader and innovator in ecological restoration and stewardship (seed collection, seed processing, seedbank, native nursery, bush crew, community education)

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Fairtrade Australia New Zealand

Carlton

Behind products on the supermarket shelves and in stores are people: farmers, workers – families. We empower millions of farmers and workers around the world by tac...

Climate EnergySustainable Food Agriculture

Fitted for Work: The Conscious Closet

Richmond
Climate Energy

Food Frontier

North Melbourne
Waste Circular Economy

Forest Stewardship Council Australia (FSC)

Melbourne

FSC Australia's mission is to promote environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world's forests.

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Friends of Taylor Park Torquay Victoria

Torquay

“Friends of Taylor Park Torquay Victoria Inc”. Our mission statement is: 1. To maintain Taylor Park, which is located in Torquay Victoria, as a reserve for native pl...

Land Conservation

Friends of the Earth Australia

Fitzroy

Friends of the Earth Australia is a member of Friends of the Earth International which is the world's largest grassroots environmental network, uniting 77 nationa...

Waste Circular Economy

Friends of The Earth Melbourne

Collingwood
Climate Energy

Greenfleet Australia

Melbourne

Greenfleet is an environmental not-for-profit organisation that plants native, biodiverse forests in Australia & New Zealand.

Wildlife BiodiversityClimate Energy

Greening Australia

Melbourne

Science-led, large scale environmental restoration across Australia

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Green Music Australia

Collingwood

Green Music Australia harnesses the cultural power of music and musicians to create a greener world. We provide tools, encouragement, case studies and personalised ...

Climate EnergyWaste Circular Economy

HOMEGROUND CAFE

Mornington

The Mornington Peninsula is known for its pristine beaches, world class wineries and vibrant cafe scene but did you know that it also has one of the highest rates of...

Land ConservationEnvironmental Justice

Karrkad Kanjdji Trust

Melbourne

Indigenous land management and conservation supporting the regeneration of our climate and natural world, for Country, culture and community.

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Keep It Cool

Jindabyne

Keep It Cool is a new and exciting environment focused not-for-profit based in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. The overarching goal of ...

Climate Energy

Maribyrnong River and Waterways Association

Niddrie

Founded in 2023, the Maribyrnong River and Waterways Association (MRWA) is a values-driven community-based organisation that advocates for the health of rivers

Land ConservationWater Rivers

Market Forces

Collingwood

Market Forces exists because in order to solve the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, we need to change the way financial institutions behave. Our ...

Climate Energy

Merri Creek Management Committee

Brunswick East

The primary purpose of the Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) is to ensure the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, and the ecologically sensitive res...

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Mission Paws'ible Charity Pty Ltd

Melbourne

Mission Paws'ible is focused on helping the animals, people and environment of Bali, Indonesia.

Water RiversWaste Circular Economy

Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd

Hastings

The Western Port Biosphere Foundation champions approaches that focus on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. We link people and resources to deliv...

Climate EnergyEducation Advocacy

Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation

Rosebud

Koala Conservation group on the Mornington Peninsula

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Mountain Safety Collective Australia

Harrietville

Mountain Safety Collective provides free daily backcountry conditions for Australia's alpine regions facilitating recreation, education and conservation.

Land ConservationEducation Advocacy

Ocean Mind

Torquay

To enrich young people’s mental health, relationships and potential through surfing

Outdoor Recreation Access

Odonata Foundation

Little River

We save species.

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

One Girl

Melbourne

At One Girl we break down barriers so young women and girls can access quality education, in and out of the classroom.

Climate EnergyEnvironmental Justice

Parents for Climate

Melbourne

Australia’s leading climate advocacy organisation for parents, carers, families and all who care about a safe future for kids.

Climate EnergyEnvironmental Justice

People and Parks Foundation

Melbourne

 Our mission is to raise awareness that it is in our own health, wellbeing and economic interests to care for nature. We work in partnership to develop and resource...

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Pet Medical Crisis

Caulfield

We break down barriers to critical vet care in times of crisis to prevent suffering and loss.

Education Advocacy

Pollinate Group

South Melbourne

We empower women leaders to distribute life-enhancing products in underserved communities, giving them life skills in entrepreneurship to have access to livelihoods

Climate EnergyEnvironmental Justice

Port Phillip EcoCentre

St Kilda

Our multidisciplinary team helps connect, equip and inspire people and organisations to care for land, waterways, wildlife and wellbeing.

Wildlife BiodiversityEducation Advocacy

Project Planet

Collingwood

Project Planet helps Australians turn climate concern into climate action. When extreme weather events strike, public concern about climate change surges — but witho...

Education Advocacy

Protect Our Winters (POW) Australia

Fitzroy North

Protect Our Winters Australia is mobilising the winter loving community to turn their passion into purpose to protect the future of snow from climate change.

Land ConservationEducation Advocacy

RE-Alliance Limited

Collins Street West

The Australian Renewable Energy Alliance, or RE-Alliance, is working to secure a renewable energy shift that strengthens and renews regional and rural Australia

Climate Energy

Renew Australia Inc

North Melbourne

Renew Australia is a national, not-for-profit organisation that inspires, enables and advocates for people to live sustainably in their homes and communities.

Climate EnergyOther

Rocket Seeder Limited

South Melbourne

To support early stage startups aligned to UN SDGs

Climate EnergySustainable Food Agriculture

Save the Children Australia

Melbourne

The climate crisis is a child rights crisis.

Climate Energy

Schools for Nepal

Roxburgh Park

Building Schools, Education in sustainable practices in Nepal. Support children though education.

Land ConservationEnvironmental Justice