Natural Environments Fund

The purpose of the Natural Environments Fund is to promote the protection, restoration, and enhancement of areas of significant indigenous biodiversity or fauna on private land throughout the South Taranaki District.

Many of the remaining indigenous species and ecosystems in our District are under threat. This Fund encourages private landowners to work alongside us, and other agencies, to help protect and enhance these significant areas.

The Council will consider projects that:

• Assist with protection, enhancement, or restoration of identified SNAs.
• Assist with the protection, enhancement, or restoration of non-SNAs.
• Promote the protection of areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna throughout the District.

Funding Types

Significant Natural Areas (SNAs)

• The Council will contribute up to 50% towards project costs for SNAs, if all conditions made by the Council for such funding are fulfilled.

Non-SNAs

• To be considered for this fund, non-SNAs must already be legally protected (through QEII or similar perpetual legal protection agreements), or the landowner must be prepared to legally protect the area as part of the funding conditions. The area for the project either has or will have legal protection status within 12 months of being funded. Legal protection may include but is not limited to: Queen Elizabeth II National trust, Open Space Covenant, or a Memorandum of Encumbrance.
• The council will contribute up to one third (of the total cost) of project costs, for non-SNAs, provided that all conditions made by the Council for such funding are fulfilled. In exceptional circumstances, grants of a higher contribution towards total project costs may be approved.
• Non-SNA sites that have an active Biodiversity Plan with the Taranaki Regional Council will be prioritised for funding.

Other projects

• The Council will consider a funding contribution for other projects that assist in the protection or promotion of the protection of significant indigenous vegetation and habitats of indigenous fauna (for example: environmental education projects or landscape-scale environmental projects or similar).This funding does not need to be linked to specific areas (SNAs or non-SNAs), and funding applications for these kinds of projects are assessed by the Council on a case by case basis.

Funding Conditions

• Both individuals and organisations are eligible to apply.
• Applications for Natural Environment Funding grants may only be accepted for requests between $5,000 and $30,000, but smaller grants may be allocated on a case-by-case basis. The applicant’s contribution towards the project must be clearly detailed in the relevant application form. Note: An applicant’s contribution towards the total costs does not need to be financial and can include volunteer time or inkind support.
• Council funding is complementary rather than a primary funder. Priority will be given to applicants that can demonstrate they are seeking and/or have secured other sources of funding.