The Restoration and Rehabilitation Grants Program gives councils and community organisations the opportunity to run projects to prevent and repair environment deterioration in local areas.

Goulburn MP Pru Goward said the grant program helped protect and repair local environments.

"This grants program is a grass roots program which aims to restore degraded environmental resources, including rare and endangered ecosystems, protect important ecosystems and habitats of rare and endangered flora and fauna, and prevent or minimise future environmental damage," Ms Goward said.

Environment Minister Mark Speakman said these grants would help communities and organisations to conduct important environmental work that protects, restores and improves vulnerable ecosystems from degradation.

"There is two million dollars available to community and not-for-profit organisations, two million dollars for government entities and a further $1.3 million is available for owners and managers of NSW State Heritage Register listed properties."

Applications for grants of $5000 to $100,000 close on Friday, September 18.

Grants are available for projects where work is carried out over a period of up to three years.

Details: www.environment.nsw. gov.au/grants/restoration.htm