Predator Free 2050 to Fund Bold Conservation Projects

Predator Free 2050 Ltd on the hunt to fund bold conservation projects

Starting today (12 September), New Zealand conservation groups committed to broad scale predator eradication are encouraged to lodge an expression of interest for funding and support from Predator Free 2050 Ltd.

The organisation - tasked with eradicating possums, rats and stoats from New Zealand by 2050 is seeking Expressions of Interest from regional and local councils, community organisations, mana whenua, businesses, Non-Governmental Organisations and other entities capable of delivering eradication initiatives in line with its 2025 goals.

The 2025 goals include enlarging target predator suppression to an additional one million hectares of mainland New Zealand, eradicating predators from at least 20,000 hectares of mainland New Zealand without the use of fences, eradicating all predators from New Zealand’s island nature reserves and achieving a breakthrough science solution capable of eradicating at least one small mammalian predator from the mainland.

Predator Free 2050 Ltd is required to secure matching investment of $2 for every $1 of Crown investment. Accordingly, any proposed landscape scale projects need to be able of demonstrating the ability or potential to provide sufficient funding to meet these financial parameters.

Expressions of interest will need to demonstrate a clear potential for large-scale predator eradication and will be evaluated against 13 criteria. Most notably, projects need to be ambitious in scale, capable of delivering transformational biodiversity gains, align to the Predator Free mission and demonstrate sound management capacity and financials.

Predator Free 2050 Ltd CEO Ed Chignell says these large-scale projects are critical to driving forward the Predator Free 2050 vision. “These are our pathfinder projects, the proving grounds for innovative new tools and a collaborative partnership approach.

“We’re laying the foundations for the next three decades of Predator Free 2050 operations, working towards achieving our mainland suppression/eradication goals and making inroads towards scientific breakthrough.”

Expressions of interest close on October 13, followed by shortlisting and requests for full proposals. Funding approvals are slated for mid-February 2018.

Parties interested in lodging an expression of interest can find out more at www.pf2050.co.nz.

ENDS

About Predator Free 2050 Ltd

Predator Free 2050 Ltd’s role is to help New Zealand achieve the Predator Free 2050 goal by invest in high-value, large-scale predator control initiatives, scientific research into predator control, and attract investment from the private sector, philanthropists and local government.

DOC is the government agency responsible for facilitating the overall Predator Free 2050 programme, establishing Predator Free 2050 Ltd, and ensuring the public and private sectors are connected.

The Predator Free 2050 goal

Predator Free 2050 is an ambitious programme launched by the Government in July 2016 to rid New Zealand of our most damaging introduced predators – possums, rats and stoats – by 2050.

The aim is to protect our threatened native species and benefit our regional economies through primary industries and tourism.

This New Zealand-wide goal will require new technologies and a co-ordinated team effort across communities, iwi, and the public and private sectors.

The Predator Free 2025 goals

Predator Free 2050 Ltd has set four intermediate goals, achievable by 2025:

• Enlarge target predator suppression to an additional one million hectares of mainland New Zealand.

• Eradicate predators from at least 20,000 hectares of mainland New Zealand without the use of fences.

• Eradicate all predators from New Zealand’s island nature reserves.

• Achieve a breakthrough science solution capable of eradicating at least one small mammalian predator from the mainland.

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