Click here >>>	Funding Assistance for Land Owners Kaikoura District Council and other organisations offer financial assistance for land owners to protect their land.
Click here >>>	Projects Volunteer projects, Conservation Week, relocation of the Huttons Shearwater Colony, and many more projects are underway.
Click here >>>	Biodiversity Bonanza! In late March the Kaikoura District Council, with support from the Regional Biodiversity Coordinator, will hold its first Biodiversity Bonanza. The event, starting on Friday the 27th will provide a ‘one-stop shop’ for those interested in learning more about Kaikoura’s biodiversity and the services and opportunities available to protect, enhance and restore it.
Click here >>>	Newsletters & Other information Keep up to date with the latest information from Kaikoura District Council and other organisations working locally to help increase the areas of biodiversity in our district.

Biodiversity - What is it??

Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms - the different plants, animals, micro-organisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems on land or in water where they live.

High percentages of New Zealand's indigenous species are found only in New Zealand (endemic). This is remarkable internationally. Britain has only two endemic species: one plant and one animal. Around 90% of New Zealand's insects and marine molluscs, 80% of trees, ferns and flowering plants and 25% of bird species, all 60 reptiles, four remaining frogs and two species of bat, are found nowhere else on Earth.

The uniqueness of New Zealand's biodiversity means the responsibility for its continued existence, is entirely up to us!!!
This country was one of the last places on earth to be settled by humans. When they arrived 1000 or so years ago, the impact on indigenous species was huge. Many became extinct and around 1000 more continue to be threatened by the destruction of habitats, animal pests and invasive weeds.

Hunting and loss of habitat took care of another 23 land-based native bird species. The arrival of Europeans and their animals from the middle of last century saw another third of New Zealand's forests converted to farmland and the extensive drainage of wetland habitats.

While ongoing habitat loss is a serious problem, the biggest threat now is introduced weeds and animal pests. The most damaging animal pests include possums, stoats, feral cats, rats, deer and goats. (see www.doc.govt.nz for more info)

Follow this link for more information on the current state of New Zealands biodiversity and the governments actions to arrest its decline www.biodiversity.govt.nz 

The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy (NZBS) was launched in 2000 to address how New Zealand will respond to this crisis.

At present 40% of land in Kaikoura is protected native or regenerating native vegetation and we want to increase this. The bulk of this figure lies in the subalpine and alpine zones and there is proportionally a much smaller amount of formally protected land in the coastal and lowland zones. Therefore Kaikoura District Council is keen to implement projects that will increase the amount of biodiversity in Kaikoura district.

So what is Kaikoura District Council doing about it?
Biodiversity Contestable Funding
Kaikoura's Significant Natural Areas Project
Rates Remissions for areas of protected land
Drought tolerant plants local to Kaikoura: click here

And what else is going on in the district?
Click here to find out!

There are many organisations involved in biodiversity projects around the country, and many that offer funding opportunities see below or contact Jodie Denton if you would like assistance.

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