Kiwis biggest winners in conservation funding

Kiwi living on private land in Northland are the biggest winners in conservation funding allocated by the Government Biodiversity Funds.

The funds established in 2000 are for biodiversity protection projects and distribute funding twice yearly.

In the latest round of funding, more than $2.5 million was allocated to conservation initiatives.

Department of Conservation (DOC) director general Al Morrison said the biggest allocation of $373,580 had gone to 19 conservation initiatives on private land in Northland.

"Significant kiwi populations live on private land in Northland and this money will help those landowners who realise that they have natural treasures, literally in their own backyards," Mr Morrison said.

The latest investment to protect Northland kiwi was being co-ordinated through the New Zealand Landcare Trust who had worked to include private land in their local biodiversity strategy with support from the Northland Regional Council.

"Conservation is all about partnerships. Working with private landowners to protect the unique wildlife and habitats they already value on their own land only strengthens DOC's work," Mr Morrison said.

In other parts of New Zealand, Biodiversity Funds would help a range of private conservation initiatives ranging from trapping and predator control programmes to protecting endangered birds, through to fencing to allow the re-growth of native plants.

- NZPA