As part of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, the Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee has funding of $100,000 per year for four years (2011-2015) to support projects through the Immediate Steps biodiversity protection and restoration programme.

The Immediate Steps programme aims to protect and restore freshwater biodiversity and water-use affected terrestrial biodiversity in Canterbury.

The Selwyn-Waihora  Zone Committee has decided to focus this funding in two priority areas:

• The Hororata River catchment focusing on protecting and connecting springs and wetlands with remnant native biodiversity values
• The Upper Waimakariri catchment focusing on protecting significant spawning sites for mahinga kai species, lakes and wetlands with remnant native biodiversity values.

For further information visit the ECan website or contact the Biodiversity Team on 0800 324 636 or email biodiversity@ecan.govt.nz.