Otago’s green skinks are just one group welcoming a boosted ECO Fund from the Otago Regional Council (ORC) this year.

The 2023 ECO Fund is offering more support for community-led projects which protect, enhance, or promote Otago’s environment.

In 2021, the Central Otago Ecological Trust received $4,860 in funding towards its Otago green skink translocation project, which is bringing 60 skinks back to their original habitat within New Zealand’s first fully fenced dryland community sanctuary in Alexandra (the Mokomoko Drylands Sanctuary) this summer, Otago Regional Council (ORC) biodiversity partnership lead Richard Ewans said.

“Whether your project is large or small, we welcome your application.”

 The total environmental contestable grants’ fund has risen by 20.8 per cent to $568,000, and online applications for the 2022/2023 financial year are open until Friday March 31 .

There are additional incentives funding grant options on offer as well as Otago Regional Council’s (ORC) annual $290,000 contribution, both of which are managed via the ECO Fund.

“Some of last year’s ECO Fund grant funding was not used and more incentives funding is available, so the amount has increased,” Richard said.

“The total contestable environmental grant money for 2023 is now $568,000, up from $470,000 in the 2022 round.”

To date, the ECO Fund (including incentives funding) has funded 100 projects, from 232 applications, totalling $1,190,125 out of $4.03M requested over eight rounds.

Richard said the ECO Fund supports on-ground works and education or awareness-raising community-led projects, including administrative support. 

“The new incentives funding for protected private land means landowners with QEII or Ngā Whenua Rāhui covenants, regionally significant wetlands, or scheduled significant natural areas (SNAs) can apply for support to protect and enhance biodiversity on private land for the first time since the ECO Fund was established.”

The funding breakdown is this year is: ECO Fund ($328,000); incentives funding for biodiversity enhancement on protected private land ($30,000), native planting for water quality outcomes ($30,000), native planting after plant pest (e.g., wilding pine) removal ($30,000), and for collaborative community rabbit management projects ($150,000).

The updated criteria and online application form are available on ORC’s website.