Otago Regional Council (ORC) approved the recommendations of the ECO Fund decision panel, with two local recipients in Wānaka.

Wānaka's Alpine Lakes Research and Education Centre “is very excited about receiving funding from ORC's ECO Fund to facilitate a BioBlitz,” said an ALREC spokesperson. 

“Bioblitz promotes awareness of the importance of understanding the natural world, blending scientists, conservationists and community members together to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible,” they continued.  

ALREC proposes to manage Bioblitz activities in two phases: a trial run with Makarora School in February before a full community Bioblitz later on The new ALREC facility on Riverbank Road would be used as the base camp for the Bioblitz”.

Another local grant recipient was Central Lakes Branch of Forest & Bird. “We are very grateful to have received ORC ECO Fund support for a pest trapping programme on Otago's braided rivers. On Matukituki and Rees Rivers we have now deployed networks of live-capture traps that are monitored by satellite. When a trap is triggered we are informed by email and are then able to promptly clear and reset the trap,” said a spokesperson from Central Lakes Branch of Forest & Bird. 

The next round of funding will open on March 1, 2020, and anyone considering applying is encouraged to contact ecofund@orc.govt.nz if they have questions or are seeking advice on their application.