Conservation fund now open to Pōneke/ Wellington projects

Media release

2 March 2015

Conservation fund now open to Pōneke/ Wellington projects

As announced by the Minister of Conservation, Hon Maggie Barry, the second round of the Community Conservation Partnerships Fund (CCPF) is now open.

“Last year, the fund made a significant contribution to conservation in Pōneke/ Wellington through enabling communities to work in partnership with Department of Conservation in undertaking practical on-the-ground projects,” says Paul McArthur, Wellington Conservation Partnerships Manager. “The fund was heavily contested last year and we presume it will be similar this year.”

In 2014, eight of the fifteen applications from the Pōneke/ Wellington district were successful. Some of the range of volunteer–led activities which were funded included: restoration of the urban Kumutoto Stream through pest control, tree planting, and education initiatives; expanded and modernised pest control for an existing kiwi conservation project in the Rimutaka Forest Park, and; enhancement of penguin habitat around Wellington’s South Coast.

The application process for this year has two stages, commencing with an Expressions of Interest (EOI) open until 2 April.

In addition to the conservation benefit, applicants will need to demonstrate how the project meets the community’s aspirations, builds collaboration and partnerships with others, and how the project will be sustainable.

Successful EOI applicants will then be invited to submit a full application. A final decision on full applications is expected to be made by August 2015.

To find out more about the Community Conservation Partnerships Fund, visit:

www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/run-a-project/funding/community-conservation-partnerships-fund

–Ends–

Background information

• The purpose of the fund is to inspire and enable community-led conservation growth.

• The fund was established in 2014 to provide $26 million over four years for community-led conservation projects around New Zealand. In the first year $8.5 million was allocated across more than 100 community organisations nationwide.

• The fund is directed at practical, on-the-ground projects. These projects will maintain and restore the diversity of our natural heritage and enable more people to participate in recreation, enjoy and learn from our historic places, and engage with and value the benefits of conservation.