Canon Oceania appeals for applicants to its annual environmental grants program

Would a pair of high-performance binoculars help you monitor the status of an endangered species in your community? Perhaps an underwater camera would help your coral reef conservation project document the effects of global warming? Or would a new printer ensure your charity’s time and effort goes into helping the communities that need it, providing high-quality document and photo printing?

Canon Oceania is calling for applicants for its annual environmental grants program. Grants in kind worth $40,000 are available to Australian and New Zealand organisations making a positive impact on their environment and community.

“There are some amazing community-led projects going on out there that could really benefit from some support in kind from Canon. Nothing gives us more of a buzz than seeing our imaging products being used to benefit our environment and the communities we operate in,” said Janet Leslie, Sustainability Manager, Canon Oceania.

“Last year’s grants have helped support environmental programs run by the Total Environment Centre, sea turtle protection projects run by Conservation Volunteers Australia, community initiatives run by the Small Farms Network and Woppa-burra Land Trust and research work being undertaken at UTS.”

Selection is based on the environmental merits of each group’s nominated project, as well as the importance of the digital imaging products that make up the grant in realising its success. Each of the recipients will have their choice of $5000 of Canon equipment - including digital compact and DSLR cameras, video cameras, binoculars, projectors, printers and waterproof cameras.

This year the grants will be awarded under the following categories:

Australia

• National Award: An environmental project with national significance and impact.
• Regional Award: An environmental project with significance to a rural or regional area.
• School Award: An environmental project being run by a primary or secondary school community.
• Grassroots Award: A community group with an income of $25,000 or less.
• Youth Award: A project led by an individual under 25 years of age.

New Zealand

• Regional Award: An environmental project with significance to a rural or regional area.
• School Award: An environmental project being run by a primary or secondary school community.
• Grassroots Award: A community group with an income of $25,000 or less.

Applications for this year’s program can be made through the Canon website. Submissions close 31 August 2012.