November 29, 2018
Māori landowners targeted for forest fund
Forestry Minister Shane Jones says supporting Māori to realise the potential of their land is one of the priorities for a new One Billion Trees Fund.
Mr Jones and Primary Industries Minister Damien O’Connor today announced the fund led by Te Uru Rākau: Forestry New Zealand would provide $118 million for simple and accessible grants to landowners and organisations looking to plant trees.
Another $120 million will be available for partnership projects that aim to reduce the barriers to tree planting through innovation, research and sector development initiatives.
Mr Jones says the coalition Government’s One Billion Trees Programme is a huge opportunity to revitalise the regions and create real economic, social and environmental benefits across the country.
He says the Government has exceeded the first year’s planting goal, with over 60 million trees planted.
The new fund will build on this early momentum by supporting planting to reduce erosion, improve water quality, achieve regional development goals, enhance biodiversity, develop Māori-owned land and diversify productive land use.
It brings the total for the One Billion Trees Programme, funded from the Provincial Growth Fund, to $480 million.
Applications to the new Fund are now open through Te Uru Rākau and can be submitted all year round.
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