The government has opened the 2018 funding round for the Gisborne district’s Erosion Control Funding Programme (ECFP).
According to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the East coast is the most erosion-prone region in New Zealand, and leaving eroded land untreated will have a negative impact on the area.
“The region has such great potential for further sustainable primary-sector growth, but in many cases erosion adversely affects land productivity,” said Steve Penno, MPI director for investment programmes. “We need to address the region’s most severe erosion issues now to help plan for the prosperity of future generations.”
MPI said the ECFP aims to help Gisborne district landowners with the worst eroding or erosion-prone land by providing funding to treat their land. Funding can be provided to plant exotic and indigenous trees, and in some cases allows for the regeneration of native bush.
Through the ECFP, eligible landowners can receive up to $2,000 per hectare for tree planting and reversion treatments, and up to $26 per pole for poplar and willow treatments.
Penno is urging people to apply for the funding as soon as they can. Last applications will be taken in 2020 if funding remains unallocated by then, he said.
“We made changes to the ECFP last year to provide funding upfront to reduce the financial burden on landowners and widen the land categories eligible so more landowners can be supported with moderate to severe erosion issues,” Penno added.
The ECFP applications close June 29.
