Funding available for local freshwater biodiversity protection

The Canterbury Water Banks Peninsula Zone Committee has more than $430,000 of funding available to support local biodiversity programmes.

The funding, to be distributed over the next four years, is intended to support local landowners to protect local freshwater biodiversity values.

Banks Peninsula Zone Committee member Pam Richardson said the funding will support on-the-ground actions.

“The zone committee has already approved four projects which focus on protecting local streams and we are now looking for more worthy initiatives to support.

“Specifically, projects that will protect the ecosystem health of freshwater habitats such as wetlands, springs, coastal streams, lakes and lowland waterways will be supported.

“We are particularly keen to hear about projects that will involve collaboration between landowners and community groups.

“We have also identified some key criteria that applications are required to meet. Projects with good connectivity to other protected areas are a priority, and we are keen to support projects that align with the Ki Uta Ki Tai ‘from the mountains to the sea’ approach to waterway protection,” she said.

The zone committee intends to spread its funding as evenly as possible across the Banks Peninsula zone to ensure as much of the zone benefits as possible.

The committee is also keen to support areas of high biodiversity value which are particularly vulnerable to threats such as pests and weeds or land-use changes, and which offer educational opportunities for the public.

Examples of biodiversity protection projects could include; fencing riparian vegetation and waterways to protect it from stock (beyond what is required by legislation), weed and pest management, and wetland restoration.

If you have a biodiversity protection project that could benefit from some financial support, please contact Banks Peninsula Zone Committee member Pam Richardson on 03 304 6825 iprichardson@xtra.co.nz , or Robyn Russ (Environment Canterbury Biodiversity Officer) on 027 475 6290 / robyn.russ@ecan.govt.nz .

Background

The Immediate Steps programme is a key component of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. Through this fund, $ 1.24 million is allocated annually to projects and there is a further contribution required from third parties.

The programme aims for the protection of ecosystems and habitats to conserve indigenous freshwater diversity. Projects allocated funding will reflect the principles of the Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy and ki uta ki tai – from the mountains to the sea.

CWMS Zone Committees are charged with deciding the priorities for in each zone and there is also significant funding available to the Regional Committee to support regionally significant biodiversity projects.

Environment Canterbury also allocates $400,000 per year to a range of important biodiversity projects across the Canterbury region. This money is in addition to Immediate Steps biodiversity funding and is targeted towards the highest priority actions aimed at protecting and restoring the regions’ biodiversity. These projects will protect and enhance a variety of ecosystem types, including wetlands, lowland streams and native vegetation remnants. Projects include native plantings, weed control, pest and stock proof fencing.

Environment Canterbury also allocates grants on behalf of the Honda TreeFund, including to school projects. Honda sponsors 10 native trees to be planted for every new car sold, with another three funded by local Honda dealers.