THE NEW ZEALAND BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY FUNDING PACKAGE 2000-2005

The Government will spend an extra $187 million over the next five years on a wide range of actions that will support the implementation of the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, launched in March this year. The Biodiversity Strategy establishes national goals to "turn the tide" on the decline of our biological diversity, and to maintain and restore a full range of our remaining natural habitats and ecosystems and viable populations of all native species. The package of Biodiversity Strategy funding includes new funding for the Department of Conservation, as well as for the Environment, Fisheries and Biosecurity.

The package
The package is divided into four key areas, each containing a number of programmes for protecting, maintaining and restoring biodiversity by:
1. Increasing the extent of biodiversity on land and in freshwater, through agency co-ordination, information systems, working with landowners to protect biodiversity on private land, and raising public awareness.
2. Improving the condition of biodiversity on land and in freshwater, through focusing on maintaining and restoring biodiversity through weed and pest control and intensive management.
3. Conserving marine biodiversity and protecting marine biosecurity, through development of an oceans policy, marine biodiversity information systems, biosecurity planning and monitoring, and marine reserves.
4. Enhancing our biosecurity capability, through development of a New Zealand Biosecurity Strategy and assessing biosecurity risks to indigenous flora and fauna. Some initiatives are new and some build on existing work. A selection of initiatives are highlighted below and in the accompanying factsheets.

Highlights
Over the next five years, the Government will spend an extra:

 $57 million on controlling animal pests and weeds on public conservation lands.
 $37 million on increasing the funds available to protect and maintain biodiversity on private land through the Nature Heritage Fund, Nga Whenua Rahui and the QEII National Trust, as well as establishing a new fund for ongoing management.
 $2.35 million to increase iwi and hapu participation in managing biodiversity in ways that are consistent with customary knowledge (Matauranga Maori) with the knowledge remaining the property of the particular iwi or hapu.
 $10 million on the Kiwi Recovery Programme – creating five kiwi sanctuaries across the country, at Okarito, Haast, the western North Island, Coromandel and in Northland.
 $11.5 million on increasing the number of marine reserves around New Zealand, and providing for their management.
 $9.8 million on improving the protection of the marine environment from invasive marine species.  $14.1 million on researching New Zealand’s marine biodiversity, leading to better management.
 $2.6 million for the development of a comprehensive biosecurity strategy for New Zealand and the assessment of biosecurity risks to indigenous flora and fauna.

For further information and the complete text of the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy Funding Package 2000-2005, please refer to: www.biodiv.govt.nz