• About the funds
• Current funding round
• Previous funding rounds
• Other funders
• Reports

About the funds
The Biodiversity Funds are a government initiative to enhance management of indigenous biodiversity outside public conservation lands (i.e. only private land - including Maori land - is funded). This includes areas of native vegetation, wetlands, and the habitats of native fish, birds and other species. Foreshore (the area between low and high watermark) and Crown-owned coastal marine areas are also excluded from funding by the Biodiversity Funds.

Applications are invited twice a year from private landowners and community groups for projects on private land aimed at improving or maintaining the condition of indigenous vegetation, species and habitats. Proposals involving public conservation lands which include DOC reserves, council owned land, or Crown-owned foreshore and riverbeds, will not be considered.

Advice Fund
The Biodiversity Advice Fund supports the provision of information and advice to land managers to assist them in managing indigenous biodiversity. It will fund projects that inspire landholders or groups to improve the condition of indigenous biodiversity (outside of public conservation lands). The advisory services may be one off or ongoing. Methods of providing information and advice could include ecological reports, management plans, field days, expert advice, wananga, publications (including electronic material), training, workshops and seminars.

Condition Fund
The Biodiversity Condition Fund aims to improve and maintain the condition of areas of indigenous vegetation, species and habitats (including wetlands and water bodies). The Fund seeks to broaden community effort in the management of indigenous biodiversity, and to complement contributions for its enhancement. It will fund projects that enhance biodiversity outside public conservation lands, and particularly on areas under legal protection. Projects could involve, for example, fencing, weed control, restoration planting or pest control.

General information
There is a general guideline of $60,000 per year maximum for a single project. This is to assist in reducing the pressures on the fund caused by large applications and to ensure that the maximum number of projects meeting the Fund’s criteria can be considered.

A guideline for the maximum project term of three years has been also adopted for both funds with the general expectation being that alternative funding will be sourced within that initial 3-year term for ongoing projects.

In setting these terms and limits as a guide it is accepted that in some exceptional cases applicants may still wish to bid for an amount in excess of the fund limit. These applications will still be accepted but any approvals would be made as an exception and would need a very persuasive application in both instances. Prior discussion with the Fund Manager is recommended in such cases.

Current funding round
The Funds are currently CLOSED for applications.

It is anticipated the NEXT FUNDING ROUND will open in June 2010.

If you wish to be kept informed of future funding rounds please contact the funds at biofunds@doc.govt.nz.

Report: Fund Allocation on track
Dr Wren Green was commissioned by the Fund to look into Funding allocations and current Biodiversity Priorities. In his report Benefits of Biodiversity Projects for Biodiversity Priorities (PDF) he uses project allocation information from the 268 projects from the 2004-05 rounds of the Biodiversity Condition Fund and overlays this information over the LENZ Ecological Threatened classifications.

The review report lists matters arising from the review and also makes a number of recommendations.  These have been adopted where considered appropriate.

Find out about projects approved in previous funding rounds and about other funders below.

Further information
Please contact us if you have any questions about the Biodiversity Condition Fund or the Biodiversity Advice Fund.

Information on previous funding rounds

Results of July 2009 funding round thirteen
View the Minister’s press release and the Regional list of approved projects FR13 (PDF)

Results of December 2008 funding round twelve
View the Director General’s press release (PDF) and the Regional list of approved projects FR12 (PDF)

Results of June 2008 funding round eleven
View the Regional list of approved projects FR11 (PDF)

Results of November 2007 funding round ten
View the Ministers' press release FR10 (PDF) and a Regional list of approved projects FR10 (PDF).

Other funders

Lottery Environment and Heritage Fund – Department of Internal Affairs:

Lottery Environment and Heritage funds clearly specified one off projects which seek to promote, protect and conserve New Zealand's indigenous flora and fauna. Priority is given to projects which involve: conservation of indigenous flora and fauna, identification and conservation of critical habitats and ecosystems, conservation of rare, endangered or threatened species in their natural habitat and enhancement of public education and awareness of issues affecting indigenous flora and fauna.

Find out more at www.cdgo.govt.nz

Local and Regional Councils:

Many local and regional councils have Environment Funds for landowner and/or community groups. Contact your local council for further information / advice.

Sustainable Farming Fund – Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry:

The purpose of the MAF Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) is to improve the financial and environmental performance of New Zealand’s productive land-based sectors. It does this by supporting projects that are: based around solving problems, or taking up opportunities, related to sustainable resource use; and defined and driven by a farmer, grower or forester-led “Community of Interest” - groups of stakeholders drawn together by the common problem(s) or opportunity.

www.maf.govt.nz/sff

Reports

Long-term Sustainability of Community Biodiversity Enhancement Projects (PDF)

Summary: Long-term Sustainability of Community Biodiversity Enhancement Projects on Private Land (PDF)

Community groups are increasing their contribution to the enhancement of New Zealand’s indigenous biodiversity with their large-scale catchment restoration or species protection projects. This report identifies some of the issues these groups face to sustain their work over the long-term which is required for both ecosystem and species protection and recovery. It provides possible initiatives to sustain such projects for the projects and community groups, funders and government agencies. Also available is a summary of this report.

Managing for Carbon and Biodiversity Gain from Ozothamnus Shrublands during Succession to Broadleaved Forest (PDF)
NB: This is a large file, 3,940K

In 2005 a contribution was made by the Biodiversity Advice Fund toward funding an assessment of forest restoration at points in time across several forest communities to ensure biodiversity and biomass enhancement is accomplished. The report was to document changes in woody species composition in shrub land - forest, estimate biomass carbon consequences of transitions between forest types and provide management options to the landowner for maximizing biodiversity and carbon gains. The work was undertaken by Fiona Carswell, Larry Burrows and Geoff Walls.

The report is of interest to landowners involved in retirement - restoration of forest involving shrub land - podocarp succession as well as providing useful comment on the carbon sequestration elements involved in such transitions.

Last revised 03/02/2010