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 Fact Sheets.

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.

Biodiversity under threat

The 1997 report on the State of New Zealand's Environment identified the decline of New Zealand's indigenous biodiversity as our most pervasive environmental issue. In response, the Biodiversity Strategy establishes a strategic framework for action to conserve and sustainably use and manage biodiversity.

The new funding will be directed towards achieving the four goals of the Strategy:
Goal One: Community and individual action, responsibility and benefits recognises that people are the real powerhouse of positive change, and that community and individual actions to conserve biodiversity depend on adequate understanding, information, motivation and support.
Goal Two: Treaty of Waitangi provides for the active protection of tangata whenua interests in biodiversity, reflecting the principles of kawanatanga, rangitiratanga, kaitiakitanga and the Crown's duty of active protection of Maori interests as laid down in the Treaty of Waitangi.
Goal Three: Action Plans for New Zealand's Biodiversity sets out the benchmark to halt the decline in our indigenous biodiversity - land, freshwater, coastal and marine.
Goal Four: Genetic resources of introduced species recognises that the genetic diversity of introduced species that are economically significant or important for other reasons should be maintained.

Funding package details

All figures in $m, GST inclusive.

2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 Total
$18 $28 $38 $48 $55 $187

For further information, please refer to http://www.biodiv.govt.nz

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