Environment Canterbury is inviting landowners and community groups to apply for a share of $2 million in annual funding to protect and restore Canterbury’s unique native biodiversity.

Environment Canterbury Regional Programmes Manager Stephen Hall said the Environmental Enhancement Fund – administered by Environment Canterbury’s Biodiversity Team – provides financial support to communities where it can make a real difference.

“We want to ensure most funding goes to on-the-ground biodiversity projects that people can see and take part in.

“Projects that will deliver the greatest biodiversity benefits are most likely to be supported. The top priority is for projects to protect areas that already have high biodiversity value, such as fencing an area of native bush.

“Projects that enhance or restore areas with some existing biodiversity value, such as pest eradication around an area of native vegetation, are a secondary priority.

“A third level priority for funding is available for projects that require entirely new plantings aimed at creating biodiversity hotspots,” he said.

Up to 50% funding is available for most biodiversity projects although this can be raised for areas of high biodiversity value. Labour costs can be considered as part of the funding.

The Environmental Enhancement Fund is part of a wider package of Environment Canterbury funding to protect and restore native flora and fauna throughout the region. This package – which totals around $2 million per year – includes the Canterbury Water Management Strategy Immediate Steps programme for freshwater biodiversity.

Immediate Steps projects are administered by the 10 zonal water management committees set up as part of Canterbury Water Management Strategy. It is specifically for projects that cover the protection of endangered species and waahi taonga (sacred sites). It also covers maintenance of Canterbury’s braided rivers, providing habitat for native flora and fauna, as well as protecting wetlands and other ecosystems (see Canterbury Biodiversity).

Applications for EEF funding are accepted all year round. The projects that have the highest biodiversity value will be funded immediately if they met the relevant criteria.

Contact Environment Canterbury’s Biodiversity Team on 0800 324 636 if you have a project that might be eligible for funding. For further information you can also download an application form from the Funding page.