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Funding categories
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The ECO Fund is made up of six funding categories that aim to support our Otago community caring for the environment. Please check the table below to decide which is best for your project.
Note: If your application is eligible for more than one category, please only select one category in your application. We will move your application to the most suitable/undersubscribed category to give you the best chance of success.
If browsing from a mobile device, please scroll right to view more information.
Projects that must be completed by June 2025
|
Funding category |
Description |
Funds available |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Large-scale biodiversity outcomes |
This fund is for projects with large-scale or significant biodiversity outcomes. Projects may involve pest management, habitat enhancement, protection of high value areas, etc. |
Projects –$50,000 to $150,000 Total available – $300,000 |
For more information regarding the priority tiers for these projects, see the Spatial Prioritisation informing Biodiversity Management in Otago report.
|
Projects that must be completed within three years
|
Funding category |
Description |
Funds available |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ECO Fund General |
The ECO Fund supports projects that protect, enhance or promote Otago’s environment. Projects must engage or involve the community. |
Projects – up to $50,000 Total available – $318,630 |
|
|
Native planting after pest plant control |
This funding targets native planting or regeneration after the removal of pest plants (such as wilding pines, gorse, broom, sycamore) or plant “organisms of interest” listed in the Regional Pest Management Plan. |
Projects – up to $15,000 Total available – $50,000 |
Learn more about the Regional Pest Management Plan. |
|
Native planting for water quality |
This incentive fund targets planting or regeneration of native vegetation in riparian areas to improve water quality. For example, riparian revegetation to address nutrient run-off or sedimentation entering waterways. |
Projects – up to $15,000 Total available – $50,000 |
You can find information about areas of declining water quality in the ORC’s State and Trends of River and Lake Water Quality Report. |
|
Biodiversity enhancement on protected private land |
This fund supports Otago landowners whose land has protected biodiversity values to maintain or enhance those values. Individual landowners can apply for this fund and do not need to engage or involve the community. Protected private land could include covenants (such as QEII covenants or Ngā Whenua Rāhui kawenata), Significant Natural Areas or Regionally Significant Wetlands scheduled in District or Regional Plans. |
Projects – up to $15,000 Total available – $100,000 |
For this fund, private land is defined as land not in public ownership i.e., freehold and/or Māori-owned land. It does not include Public Conservation Land, council reserves, LINZ-administered land e.g., Crown Pastoral Lease, or Pamu (Landcorp). |
|
Sustained rabbit management |
This fund supports long-term coordinated community-led rabbit management. It enables community groups or groups of neighbours to improve rabbit management in their area. Note that we give higher priority to community groups or groups of neighbours working collaboratively than fencing costs. |
Projects – up to $50,000 Total available – $100,000 |
Rabbit control costs (trapping, poison, shooting, etc) will not be funded through this grant. Refer to “Examples of community led rabbit activities” for more information about what can be funded. |
