Greens announce $12 million for conservation

Two conservation programmes will get a $12 million funding boost through Green Party budget initiatives.

Conservation spokeswoman Metiria Turei said the money would be used to support community and government biodiversity partnerships and research into the conservation impacts of climate change and carbon storage.

Ms Turei said community groups were doing significant restoration work on public land, like dune lands and urban waterways.

They needed support but often had difficulty accessing money for equipment or expertise, and would get $4 million of the funding.

The other $8 million would go to five research projects on climate change on conservation land.

"Now we will be able to demonstrate the extent to which native forest can mitigate the effects of climate change and how to best manage this resource in an increasingly unstable global climate," Ms Turei said.

- NZPA