Wasp Wipeout wins conservation funds
Then Nelson Mail’s Wasp Wipeout project has been given a boost with a conservation grant.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced $4.2 million in annual grants from the Department of Conservation’s Community Conservation Fund, split between 98 groups.
‘‘The DOC Community Fund is designed to provide community conservation and recreation groups with an all-important boost to reach their goals for protecting native wildlife, restoring vital habitat and improving access to New Zealand’s outdoors,’’ Sage said.
Among the successful applicants was the Mail’s Wasp Wipeout programme, which is receiving $40,000 from the DOC Community Fund to continue and expand on the work started last summer.
Nelson regional editor Victoria Guild said the grant gave the project a long-term funding base, and would enable groups in the Nelson region to continue their battle against vespula wasps.
‘‘We are about to start ramping up our campaign for this summer so the fact we have base funding for the next three years gives us a great head start.
‘‘It is great recognition of a project which involves everyone in our community working together for a common cause.
‘‘We took out 10,000 hectares of wasp nests last summer and we intend to expand that great work.’’
Wasp bait was applied to hundreds of yellow stations in Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi national parks last summer.
The expanded wipeout project will see it spreading to Marlborough and the Sounds, Canterbury and the Coromandel. Paper wasps are also in the firing-line this year, after avoiding targeting last year thanks to being harder to bait-trap.
Last year’s wasp wipeout initiative raised more than $50,000 with the support of DOC, the Tasman Environmental Trust, Project Janszoon, and members of community.
Among other groups in NelsonTasman to receive DOC community funding was the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust, which received $40,000 towards keeping the sanctuary pest-free and developing it into a secure location for the reintroduction of endangered native animals.
Tasman Environmental Trust also received $40,000 towards its restoration project for Neiman Creek that feeds into the Waimea estuary. It aims to improve waterquality and habitat to encourage the return of native fish, birds, and plants, and improve the estuary’s health.
A full list of successful applicants can be found on DOC’s Community Fund web page.