December 1, 2011
MEDIA STATEMENT
Biodiversity Incentives Fund 2011
Environment Canterbury has approved $53,000 of funding towards biodiversity projects in Canterbury which includes $6,000
from the Honda TreeFund.
Requests for funding include protecting remnant areas of indigenous bush, wetland and stream restoration, as well as
amenity plantings.
“We have been really impressed with the growing commitment to protect native flora and fauna coming from landowners and
community members,” said Tom Lambie, the Environment Canterbury Commissioner with responsibility for biodiversity.
“Protecting and restoring our natural environment has many benefits, some of them obvious such as improved community
amenity and aesthetics, and some of them less obvious such as improvements to the sustainability and productivity of
agriculture.
“Improved water quality and a more natural flow in our waterways is another benefit of many biodiversity projects.”
The latest round of funding is the eleventh since the Environment Enhancement Fund was launched by Environment
Canterbury in 2001. The fund has recently been reviewed to integrate better with the biodiversity strategy and
priorities, and made more flexible and easier for people to apply for funding.
Environment Canterbury is keen to help more communities and landowners protect and restore the unique and varied
biodiversity of the region and encourage people with potential projects to contact the Biodiversity Team on 0800 324 636
or check out www.ecan.govt.nz/biodiversity
ends