Urban biodiversity — native species, bird life, invertebrates, and green corridors in cities — is a growing conservation and wellbeing priority. New Zealand's urban areas sit within globally significant ecosystems. Cities with strong community conservation are seeing native birds return to suburbs. This guide covers the key funding sources for urban biodiversity in New Zealand.
DOC funds urban conservation:
- Community conservation grants: Urban community conservation projects
- Urban conservation: City-based ecological restoration
- Biodiversity Fund: Urban habitat creation and restoration
- Predator control in cities: Trapping networks in urban areas
Predator Free NZ Trust is the key urban biodiversity funder:
- Predator Free suburbs: Community-led trapping in urban areas
- Predator Free towns: Whole town predator elimination
- Community trapping grants: Equipment and training for urban trappers
- Monitoring support: Cameras and tracking tools for community groups
Notable urban predator-free projects: Predator Free Wellington, Predator Free Ōtepoti Dunedin, predator-free suburbs across NZ.
Councils fund urban biodiversity:
- Urban ecology budgets: Native planting and pest control in reserves
- Community conservation grants: Council grants for community biodiversity groups
- Urban wildlife corridors: Green corridors connecting habitats
- Parks and reserves: Ecological management in urban reserves
Gaming trusts fund urban biodiversity projects:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community environment and conservation
- Grassroots Trust: Community environmental projects
- Lion Foundation: Community environment
- Pub Charity: Community conservation projects
Lottery Environment and Heritage: Ecological restoration and conservation in urban areas.
Well-funded urban biodiversity groups:
- Zealandia / Karori Sanctuary: Wellington urban biodiversity model
- Orokonui Ecosanctuary: Dunedin urban sanctuary
- Community trapping groups: Neighbourhood predator control
- Kiwi guardians: Community kiwi conservation
Native planting for biodiversity:
- DOC: Community planting events in urban reserves
- Councils: Street tree and reserve native planting
- Gaming trusts: Equipment and plants for community groups
- Schools: School native garden planting
Native plants for urban biodiversity:
- Harakeke (flax) for tūī and korimako
- Mānuka and kānuka for native bees
- Kōwhai for tūī and kererū
- Native berries for native birds
Measuring biodiversity outcomes:
- Citizen science: iNaturalist for community biodiversity monitoring
- Bird counts: Annual bird counts tracking urban native bird recovery
- Camera traps: Predator monitoring in urban areas
- eDNA: Environmental DNA for freshwater biodiversity
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Species outcomes: Native bird, invertebrate, and plant species counts
- Pest control: Trapping density and catch rates
- Community engagement: Number of households and volunteers
- Native planting: Species and areas planted
- Monitoring: Systematic monitoring of biodiversity outcomes
- Predator Free connection: Link to Predator Free 2050 national strategy
- Sustainability: Long-term maintenance plan for pest control and planting
- Schools and youth: Young people engaging in urban conservation
Tahua's grants management platform helps community conservation groups manage urban biodiversity grant applications across DOC, Predator Free NZ Trust, councils, gaming trusts, and Lottery, tracking trapping, planting, and wildlife monitoring outcomes.