Call for Applications: Dunedin Biodiversity Fund – New Zealand

The Biodiversity Fund gives effect to Te Ao Tūroa – Dunedin’s Environment Strategy by supporting projects that:

• Maintain or improve the state of indigenous biodiversity e.g. fencing, plant and animal pest control projects, and/or
• Increase the extent of indigenous biodiversity e.g. revegetation projects in threatened environments and/or ecosystems.

Fund Details

• $80,000 available annually, from 2 funding rounds ($40,000 each).
• Grants are allocated on a cost-sharing basis of 50:50 between the applicant and council.
• Maximum council contribution is $5,000 (excl. GST), minimum council contribution is $500 (excl. GST).
• Applicants can claim an approved grant after first paying all costs associated with the project.
• Projects must be completed within 2 years of funding being approved.

Is my project eligible for a grant?

To be eligible for funding projects must meet the following criteria:

• Be located within the Dunedin City boundaries.
• Have direct benefit to indigenous biodiversity.
• Contribute to meeting the Objectives of Strategic Goal 2 of Te Ao Tūroa – Dunedin’s Environment Strategy: Sustain ecosystem services, increase indigenous biodiversity, restore areas of ecological value.
• Be associated with a specific site/s. Projects that refer to the whole of Dunedin or generalised areas within it will not be eligible.
• Have completed application forms that demonstrate a thorough level of planning.
• Demonstrate long-term viability of the project outcomes e.g. stock exclusion from planted areas, ongoing planned commitment to animal pest control, ongoing weed control maintenance of planted areas, etc.
• Have no unclaimed Biodiversity Fund grants relating to either the site or the applicant.
• Revegetation projects must be stocked with eco-sourced native plants and be of an appropriate ecosystem type for the site.
• Project activities are not contrary to any regulations (e.g. Otago Regional Council Flood Protection Management Bylaw 2012) and have acquired any necessary consents/landowner permissions.
• Be from a legal entity (includes individuals) who is able to meet the conditions of the fund.

Ineligible

The Biodiversity Fund does not provide grants for the following:

• Planting of exotic vegetation or non-local native species including nursery hybrids.
• Amenity or landscape plantings i.e. beautification projects.
• Projects that have been created to comply with Resource Consent conditions.
• Government Departments and Local Authorities.
• Non-farming business entities and corporate farming entities (e.g. farms that are not landowner/leaseholder occupied).
• Research projects, education or project planning.
• Visitor or volunteer infrastructure.
• Salaries or wages.

For more information, visit Dunedin City Council.