Waikato Regional Council supports landowners, community groups, iwi, and individuals to maintain, protect and restore native plants, animals and ecosystems across the Waikato region. These activities support resilient ecosystems and support our biosecurity (pest management) responsibilities as well as helping to reduce flood risk and erosion by stabilising slopes.
Council plays several roles in biodiversity management. The success of every project relies on effective collaboration between the variety of stakeholders that are involved or have an interest in the work being undertaken. We take an adaptive approach, collaborating in a variety of ways to contribute to an increase in positive biodiversity outcomes across the Waikato region, depend on the scale, stage and needs of each initiative.
Leadership
- As part of our legislative responsibilities we have regional oversight of biodiversity in the region.
- We work with district and city councils to protect areas of native vegetation through education, regulation, funding, as well as ensuring they have the necessary tools to understand and incorporate biodiversity positive requirements into their policy settings.
- We aim to raise people’s awareness of the environment so that people understand and learn what actions they can take to improve their own local environments.
- We are coordinating the development of a Regional Biodiversity Strategy.
Provide advice
- We can provide a range of advice on how to restore, protect and maintain biodiversity on your property or for community groups undertaking a community project.
Funding partner
- We have contestable funds available for individuals and groups to apply for biodiversity related projects.
- We can provide funding to landowners to fence, plant, restore, maintain and protect important areas of biodiversity on their properties.
Supporter and collaborator
- We support community groups and hubs to undertake activities that enhance native biodiversity, such as advice on techniques to use, funding options, direct funding, supporting events etc.
- We support landowners with advice and funding to restore, maintain and protect biodiversity on their property.
- We work with iwi, agencies and groups on projects and initiatives e.g.
- Coastcare
- Alongside the Department of Conservation we undertake possum control in priority possum control areas to target ‘at risk” areas of native forest.
Activation of initiatives
- We initiate innovative ways of working e.g., the Collective Impact Project which aims to harness the community to work collaboratively to achieve more for biodiversity than any individual or group could do on their own.
Advocacy, education and training
- We undertake and support a variety of activities to educate the community on the benefits and methodologies to improve biodiversity across the region, e.g. we help community groups and hubs to run workshops to upskill people on biodiversity related topics.
- We lead the Envioschools programme.
Regulators
- We have biosecurity functions that include the management of pest plants and animals.
- We have a role in managing resources to use or take water, land or coastal resources via resource consents.