Funding boost for 44 small scale community pest control projects

The fund was set up to help local and individual landowners undertake ecological enhancement through pest animal and plant control.

This year, the fund received 99 applications seeking a total of $345,484.

SSCIF is funded through the uniform annual general charge rate and $150,000 is available every year. Applications can be made for up to $5,000, with the funding round falling in June.

Successful applications ranged from $323.96 for pest animal control by an individual landowner in Thames to $4999.59 to Pukawa Wildlife Management Trust to expand its possum and rat trapping network around Pukawa settlement on the southwestern shore of Lake Taupo.

Natural Heritage biodiversity officer Andrew Thomas says preference is given to applications that seek to look after the region’s special natural areas.

“The fund helps volunteer groups and landowners with the costs of materials required to undertake pest management. Being able to support them financially to buy the tools can make a real difference in trying to keep on top of pests.

“In this funding round we are helping with the purchase of a range of traps for rats, stoats, possums and herbicide for pest plant control.”

Thomas says it’s heartening to see how much ecological enhancement is going on by individuals and groups across the region.

“We have people who are just starting to do predator or pest plant control on their properties to projects that have been operating for over 50 years.”

The regional council also recently granted $54,000 from its Environmental Initiatives Fund to six community groups working to enhance and/or benefit the environment or provide environmental education.