Forest & Bird celebrate funding boost for bats

5 October 2015

Bats are our only native land mammals and these cute little critters across the top of the South Island are about to get more attention, with additional funding from the Conservation Community Partnership Fund announced by Associate Conservation Minister, Nicky Wagner.

Forest & Bird's Te Hoiere Bat Recovery Project based at Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve in Marlborough has received funding of $113,600 over three years to provide better protection for bats in Marlborough and the top of the South Island

Te Hoiere Bat Recovery Project based at Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve, will use the funds to extend their protection and monitoring programme. Without active management, it is predicted bats will become extinct on the mainland within 50 years.

The money received by Forest & Bird will be used to employ a project manager to expand their predator control network, work closely with iwi to develop a community education package, and restore habitat in the Pelorus catchment.

Forest & Bird’s Regional Conservation and Volunteer Manager, Debs Martin, is excited with the result. “Not only do Forest & Bird contribute to a range of outstanding restoration projects in the region, but the additional capacity provided by this significant funding boost from the Ministry’s Conservation Community Partnership Fund, enables us to make a big difference in protecting our threatened animals and places.”

ENDS

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