Date:  16 October 2024

The DOC Community Fund will make $9.2 million available for community conservation groups to protect New Zealand’s unique wildlife and places.

This initiative will deliver tangible outcomes for biodiversity as well as fostering a collaborative spirit among New Zealanders in the fight to protect nature.

Previously funded initiatives include predator control to increase the population of critically endangered pekapeka/long-tailed bat, and restoring duneland habitat to help protect threatened bird species including tara iti/fairy tern.

Deputy Director-General Public Affairs, Sia Aston, says the passion displayed by local groups caring for our unique and precious species is inspirational.

“Community groups play a pivotal role in protecting native species and their habitats, and I am pleased to announce the DOC Community Fund will continue to support this important work,” says Sia.

“This fund always has a very high number of applicants. I encourage any interested groups to check the criteria if you have a project ready to go.”

Community groups, iwi and hapū, as well as private landowners throughout the country, can apply for the funding.

The 2024 funding round opens today,16 October, and will close on 28 November 2024. Details of how to apply are on the DOC website. Successful applications will be announced from late March 2025.

Background information

The DOC Community Fund (DOCCF) is a Crown fund established in 2014 that provides contestable funding for community-led biodiversity restoration projects on public and private land.

The DOCCF has an annual appropriation of $4.6 million (the 2024/25 round is doubled as there was no round in 2023/24).

Since 2014, the fund has awarded approximately $45 million to over 750 community conservation initiatives across New Zealand.

This round focuses on projects to protect threatened species (defined as Nationally Critical, Nationally Endangered, Nationally Vulnerable or Nationally Increasing) and threatened ecosystems (defined as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable).

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