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Local conservation groups and pest-free projects are at risk of severe cutbacks and even closure as a result of council funding cuts.
Auckland Council’s Community Coordination & Facilitation (CCF) grant provides funding for part-time coordinators to deliver community-led conservation projects such as predator trapping and stream restoration.
However, of the 16 Rodney groups applying for funding this year, nine received only a fraction of what they had requested and five received nothing at all – something that has come as a huge blow to the conservation community.
Umbrella support group Restore Rodney East (RRE), itself a victim of a 25 per cent grant shortfall, said as well as the CCF funding pool being reduced by well over $70,000, the number of applications had risen substantially, as the number of community groups and projects grew.
Chair Tim Armitage told last month’s Rodney Local Board’s meeting that of the almost $611,000 applied for in the region, just over $266,200 was awarded.
“The issue is the number of groups with zero funding – there are five of those that include Pest Free Warkworth, Pest Free Leigh, Puhoi Landcare and others,” he said.
“CCF is the sole funding source for a lot of groups, because while RRE can make support applications for groups that want materials or costs towards projects, the number of organisations that will actually fund people is very, very small, and they’re all getting hammered at the moment.”
He added that the situation would only get worse next year, when the government’s Jobs for Nature funding ceased.
“Several groups will have to lay off their part-time paid coordinators, others will scale back their scope and personnel. Some will maintain minimum activity with volunteers only, others will not launch or will shut down.”
Armitage pointed out that a lot of the work done by the coordinators, such as pest trapping data monitoring and liaising with landowners, was done for or on behalf of council itself.
“There are going to be a number of these groups that are winding down, taking their foot off the gas or generally not being able to maintain a lot of this work. There’s quite a big gap when these coordinators are not present.”
There was a real risk that good work could be undone, such as the return of pests and predators, if groups could not afford to keep going.
“This is not a conversation about blaming council,” Armitage added, acknowledging the local board’s ongoing generosity to such groups. “We just want to highlight the scale of the cutbacks that are occurring as we speak, or are about to occur, and what that means to RRE’s members and Rodney.”
Deputy chair Louise Johnston suggested RRE made a similar deputation to council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee.
“We can advocate on your behalf, but it would be good for them to hear from you,” she said.
Colin Smith suggested a specific targeted rate could help, while Ivan Wagstaff pointed out that Rodney was due for a fiscal boost from council’s fairer funding policy in the new Long-term Plan. Michelle Carmichael wondered if cost efficiencies could be achieved by role-sharing between groups.
Armitage said afterwards the board had exceeded his expectations in terms of the constructive suggestions made.
“However, we do face the wider problem of overwhelmed funding agencies and a deteriorating outlook for funding access, all of which will be challenging problems to navigate and solve,” he said.
Conservation funding a national issue
Community conservation funding is a national issue and “a ticking time bomb”, according to independent charitable trust Predator Free NZ.
The group says government agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded and cannot handle protecting the environment alone.
“Thousands of community conservation groups and volunteers fill the gaps – but are plagued by a lack of money and support,” a spokesperson says.
“Relying on volunteers’ grit and goodwill alone isn’t sustainable. The current funding and support systems for community conservation groups don’t work. It’s a ticking time bomb unless we start investing in and supporting them properly.”
The trust recently published a new report by Dr Marie Doole on the current conservation funding landscape. ‘Empowering Action: Improving funding and support for community conservation in Aotearoa’ reveals a critical need for more sustainable funding to support the growing number of environmental efforts.
It says that while the community conservation landscape is diverse, growing and committed, it is being impacted by a funding and support crisis and, as a result, faces an uncertain future.
“Improvements to the funding system are crucial. But at the end of the day, funds are outstripped by demand.”
The report recommends a number of key measures to improve matters, including:
• Better cooperation between agencies, landowners and groups
• More efficient funding models tailored to sector needs
• Measuring outcomes and “telling the story” of what community conservation is achieving
• Increasing the amount and range of resources available to fund and support community-based conservation work, from traditional funding to novel sources
Info: https://predatorfreenz.org/research/show-me-the-money-a-closer-look-at-community-conservation/
