Kia ora, koutou!
Where has the year gone? It's hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner. We hope that everyone has been really productive since our last newsletter in May, with plenty of planting, trapping and weed control going on. As we're now in the thick of breeding season, our native species will definitely be benefiting from your collective efforts.
We've been busy, too. All three of our funding rounds have been completed, so we're supporting lots of new groups working on a range of different kaupapa across the region.
Six community groups undertaking landscape-scale environmental projects are the recipients of the latest round of the Natural Heritage Fund. For information about the groups, their projects and what the funding will go towards, check out our media release: Council grants $1.66m to six landscape scale environmental projects.
You can find the list of the successful applicants for our other two funds on the following linked pages:
The new funding rounds will open again in the first half of next year, so keep an eye out.
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Environmental restoration projects
We are currently funding 95 individual groups or landowners a total of $2.21 million through our Natural Heritage Partnerships Programme. If you are receiving funding from us and would like to share your environmental restoration project on Waikato Regional Council's story hub and as part of our next Biodiversity Partnerships e-newsletter, please get in contact. Here are the latest groups to have their projects profiled.
Trapping comes second nature to volunteer
A retired biosecurity champion who had a career in landscape pest management is now getting his hands dirty as a volunteer trapper for Huka Trapping, a subsidiary of Taupō Biking.
Waikato trust helping at-risk youth and the environment
Kaitiakitanga Charitable Trust is making a difference in the lives of at-risk young people while also championing environmental initiatives.
Community group efforts strengthen native song
Event
Working together to restore biodiversity from mountain to sea
The Waikato Biodiversity Forum is hosting an event in Raglan in November where you can hear from four local groups about their biodiversity restoration efforts. It includes a guided field trip to Ngārunui Beach and Wainamu Beach. More details to come but you can register early via a link in their winter newsletter.
Biosecurity
Pretty pest
Taiwan cherry trees look beautiful and our native birds love their flowers and fruit. However, the birds love the tree a little too much and this has contributed to its status as an invasive species - birds disperse the seeds in their droppings, causing widespread germination of seedlings that quickly out compete our native species. Help get rid of them and plant native species that birds love: kōwhai, makomako, harakeke, pūriri, tītoki, kawakawa, karamū. Find out how at Weedbusters. (Photo: Walter Rumsby)
We need to talk about wallabies
Wallabies are a real pest control problem child, and a significant chunk of the challenge we face lies in helping people understand the scale of a problem they can’t see. Waikato Regional Council works with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, iwi, the Department of Conservation, Land Information NZ and Biosecurity New Zealand to control wallabies as part of the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme. Find out more here.
Questions or feedback? Please contact Biodiversity Officer Renee Denby at Waikato Regional Council: renee.denby@waikatoregion.govt.nz
