UNDER THREAT
Pest-free NZ goal ‘needs shake-up’
New Zealand could lose more of its endangered species unless conservation groups get the support they need. A major report, released today, finds community conservation is in trouble — and there is a risk volunteers could walk away from the country’s war against pests.
Commissioned by the Predator Free New Zealand Trust (PFNZ) — the group striving to wipe out possums, rats and stoats by 2050 — the report calls for a big shake-up of the way these grass-roots bands are coordinated and resourced.
They have played a critical role in protecting our biodiversity — setting traps, baiting stations, planting trees, and giving millions of hours of free labour — when more than 1000 of our known animal, plant and fungi species are considered threatened.
Estimates put their annual economic contribution through volunteering at nearly $16 million. The return on what the Government chips in is more than three-fold.
“They represent a huge monetary discount for the Department of Conservation [DoC]’s budget and therefore real value to the New Zealand taxpayer,” PFNZ chairman Sir Rob Fenwick said. “But, according to this report, they’re losing interest and they feel taken for granted.”
Small groups are expected to write exhaustive applications and reports for limited amounts of money. “And if they’re successful, they’re generally funded in arrears, which is tough on cash flows of small organisations.
“Funding agencies aren’t joined up to common goals within a region and so the impact of voluntary conservation is seldom measured and no one, including the volunteers, is measuring how effective they are.”
The report calls for better support structures, a system where funding is prioritised based on ecological need, and a clear strategy with objectives that can be checked against.
“Ideally, our public agencies would lead the way on this, and other funders could fall in on that approach if they wanted to,” said report author Dr Marie Brown, a leading ecologist.
“It means the resources going into community conservation will achieve a greater degree of improvement to biodiversity.”
It also recommends a nationwide network of “hubs” to support efforts in each region — and potentially a national support unit.
Brown said failing to fix funding problems could leave community groups and landowners facing constant frustration — potentially leading to a withdrawal of community effort.
But a stronger focus on strategic planning could bring faster change for the benefit of all — “most particularly our natural heritage”.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage agreed improvements were needed, and that funding processes should be better co-ordinated.
Some work has already been done to differentiate the Ministry for the Environment and DoC’s community funds — the latter which Sage wants strengthened so it is easier to apply for funding, while ensuring public money is being well spent.
DoC has also developed a “national landscape strategy” so community conservation efforts can focus on areas with high ecological values.
But Sage did not see a case for a new national entity — and believed community conservation could continue to be led by national groups with a network of local branches, and by regional organisations such as Wild for Taranaki and iwi.
“Increasingly these umbrella groups are sharing information, and encouraging collaboration and coordination across agencies, iwi and funders,” Sage said.