Conservation planting crowdfunded

Landcorp's Dale Farm manager Ian Matthews (left) with QEII Trust Waiau representative Mark Sutton...
Landcorp's Dale Farm manager Ian Matthews (left) with QEII Trust Waiau representative Mark Sutton. Photo by Douglas Thorne.
Crowdfunding might be better known for assisting fledgling businesses but it is also helping restore New Zealand waterways.

The Million Metres Streams Project, set up by the Sustainable Business Network in collaboration with Enspiral, is New Zealand's first conservation crowdfunding initiative.

Launched in October last year, the project gave people the opportunity to contribute to the restoration of waterways. It has already funded almost 5km of riparian restoration work.

The QEII National Trust is a field partner for the project, liaising with landowners, buying plants and managing volunteers.

Riparian planting was recently done along three tributaries which feed into the upper Whitestone River on Landcorp's Dale Farm, near Te Anau.

Funded by 36 donors who contributed a total of $25,200, 1350 native trees, including manatu (ribbonwood), makomako (wineberry), manuka and kowhai, were planted by volunteers and Dale Farm staff.

Dale Farm is a 2300ha property running deer, beef and sheep 20km from Te Anau and Farm manager Ian Matthews has a close relationship with the QEII Trust.

QEII Trust Waiau representative Mark Sutton said the national planting project was achieving impressive results.

 

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