The Otago Conservation Board is now running in the red, with members concerned it might not have enough funds to adequately do its work in future.
By the end of last year, the board had spent its entire 12-month budget of $22,500 in six months.
The bill for the board's essential work for the next six months, including two board meetings and six conservation management strategy (CMS) workshops, was being picked up by the Department of Conservation.
In return, the board had cancelled all its planned field trips and yesterday agreed to put off liaison meetings with Southland and Canterbury boards.
Board member Vance Boyd said at a board meeting in Dunedin yesterday the situation was not so much the result of board overspending, but more reflected that the budget set by the Conservation Minister was ''unrealistic'', given the need to complete the CMS process.
Chairman Pat Garden said there were going to be tensions concerning the degree to which volunteer contributions would be required to fill the gap in funding.
''If we get the CMS out of the road, it'll help hugely. I'm uncomfortable having to manage this process, particularly the CMS, when we are so tightly constrained.''
Board member Bruce Jefferies said he was happy to work voluntarily for the board, where possible, but expected reimbursement for legitimate claims such as travel costs.
Board member Ann Lockhart said it raised a bigger issue which needed to be discussed, concerning how the board could meet its obligations in future years under such limited budgets.
''The CMS will ultimately be replaced with some other work we need to do to meet [our goals].''
Mr Garden said the board had made a commitment, especially with its advocacy work, and would like to deliver on it.
''I think we can make a difference; that is the justification.''
Mr Jefferies said he did not support dropping the liaison meetings.
Because of the Department of Conservation's restructuring there were many overlapping and blurred lines between the three regions.
Doc conservation partnerships acting director Annie Wallace said there was a ''commitment'' to work with the board to negotiate and manage the way through the budgetary issues.
''I thank you for your austerity measures,'' she said.
Conservation boards
• Provide for interaction between a community and Conservation Department.
• Independent bodies, established by statute.
• Fourteen throughout New Zealand.
• Major responsibility is to develop a conservation management strategy (CMS).
• CMS is a 10-year plan for managing and protecting natural and historic features and wildlife of the region
