MEDIA RELEASE

New service will give Bay biodiversity a boost

For immediate release: Monday 31 October 2005

In a bid to boost the region’s biodiversity, a group of major Bay of Plenty agencies and organisations have joined forces to make it easier for landowners to get the advice they need for their projects.

Anyone who wants advice on how to restore a native bush area, attract native birds to their property or improve or create a wetland, for example, can now call a single freephone number, 0800 BIO BOP (246 267). Arron Conn, the new indigenous biodiversity advice administrator, will track down the right person in the right agency to ensure callers receive sound information, technical and possible financial support.

Mr Conn’s position was created with support from the Government’s Biodiversity Advice Fund and Environment Bay of Plenty in association with the region’s city and district councils, the Department of Conservation, Eastern Region Fish and Game and NZ Landcare Trust.

The goal is to advise rural and urban landowners and groups who are not sure about where to go for information.

Many landowners and community groups in the Bay of Plenty are doing work to protect and enhance the region’s indigenous biodiversity right now, explains Lawrie Donald of Environment Bay of Plenty. Unfortunately, it hasn’t always been easy for them to get good advice for their projects. “That’s because so many agencies are involved with different aspects of biodiversity – they have been unsure about which one to approach. Now, that’s changed. It will be much easier for everyone, whether they live on a small section in town or a large farm.”

Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers president, Derek Spratt, urges farmers to make the most of the service. “Many farmers are keen to promote biodiversity on their farms. They may have stands of native bush or wetlands that obviously need work, for example, but are not sure how to go about doing it. So it’s great that this advice service is now available to them.”

Biodiversity is the variety of plants and animals in their natural environment.

ENDS

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