Council has established this programme to provide encouragement and practical help to landowners interested in protecting significant natural areas on their properties. The programme includes both practical and financial help with work such as pest and weed control and fencing, and other support such as advice and information.
Funding for this work is available from both Council and from the central government's Biodiversity Fund in recognition that valuing and protecting New Zealand's biodiversity is an important issue that deserves public support when it falls on private landowners.
So far about 50 protection projects have been instigated through the programme, including a mix of fencing, re-vegetation, weed control and wetland restoration. Depending on the funding package that is set up, the landowner contributes between 16% and 50% of the costs.
Significant Natural Area Sites Protected MDC Landowner Assistance Programme (3 Mb)
While Council offers a funding coordination service, landowners can also apply independently to the Biodiversity Fund if that is their preference. See the central government's Biodiversity Information online.
Landowners interested in help from the Council to protect biodiversity can contact Nicky Eade.
Landowner Assistance Funding Guidelines (27 Kb)
Council also works closely with the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII), which is an independent organisation that assists landowners that want to formally protect their land through a covenant on the property title. QEII has a 25-year history of working successfully with landowners to protect a variety of important sites and landscapes. The local Nelson/Marlborough representative is Tom Stein – email - tstein@openspace.org.nz Ph: 03 5742978.
See the QE2 website.