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December 26, 2013
Iwi conservation efforts boosted by Biofund
Waatea Team
Posted On December 26, 2013
Ngati Porou’s plans to develop a conservation strategy have got major boost with a $156,522 Biofund grant to hire a project manager.
It’s one of the largest grants in the latest Biofund round, in which $3.6 million was handed out to 90 community groups.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith says the programme is about DOC partnering with communities to protect the birds, plants, landscapes and habitats that make New Zealand special.
He says threatened plants and animals are on private as well as public land, so conservation action is needed on both fronts.
“A major benefit of this programme is that we leverage more than $10 million of conservation work from this $3.6 million of grants because of the contribution of volunteer labour, donations and financial support from other sources,” Dr Smith says.
Another East Coast iwi to benefit from the scheme is Ngai Tamanuhiri, who got $17,391 towards developing a restoration plan for the range of ecological sites its owns or manages.
Tuhoe Tuawhenua Trust got $53,043 for fencing and pest control on an unlogged area of podocarp-tawa forest near Ruatahuna in Te Urewera.
Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa Runanga Trust in Reporoa got $13.043 to cage part of the Tutukau forest to protect the endemic, parasitic plant Dactylanthus Taylorii from mammals such possum, ship rat, and kiore which are attracted to its sweet smell.
Muriwhenua Incorporation got $16,286 to develop a conservation plan for its land in the far north.
Ngawai Tuson from Mangamuka got $8000 to plan how to conserve a 130ha block including wetlands bordering the Mangamuka river. The block is adjacent to one of the most northern areas of unmodified forest on Public Conservation Land.
Rawhiti 3B2 Ahu Whenua Trust in the eastern Bay of Islands got $30,000 to work with other landowners, the community and Ngā Whenua Rahui on an ecological restoration plan for the Manawahuna/Cape Brett Peninsula.
Tapuwae Incorporation got $15, 197 to start fencing off a large wetland at the entrance to its beef farm in North Hokianga as a first step in protecting and enhancing the biodiversity of the area.
The Taiao Raukawa Environmental Resource Unit in Levin got $6957 to run weekend wananga for local kaitiaki and other community members about the project Manaaki Taha Moana, which aims to enance coastal ecosystems such as Lake Waiorongomai, the stream and surrounding wetlands.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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