27 Oct 2010

Trust to expand land management work

8:30 am on 27 October 2010

The Landcare Trust plans to expand its land management work into more regions following a boost in funding from the Government.

Environment Minister Nick Smith has announced a doubling of contributions to the trust to $800,000 a year.

The independent trust was established in 1996 by Federated Farmers and Fish and Game to encourage better land management practices, protect waterways and foster native flora and fauna.

Trust chair Richard Thompson says it has achieved great success in improving water quality and reducing nutrient run-off from dairy farms in the Tasman district, as well as dryland farming practices in Marlborough and resilience to natural events in Northland.

He says the extra funding will allow it to build on its work with farmers and other landowners, and is keen to do more work in Canterbury, and the West Coast and the lower North Island.