24 April 2019

Inventors, researchers among 81 submissions made to Predator Free 2050 Limited

Provincial New Zealand is keen to embrace the Predator Free 2050 goal, a recent call for expressions of interest process has found.

Predator Free 2050 Limited has received 18 applications for coordinated, large landscape predator control and eradication projects. A further 63 expressions have been received from inventors, researchers and developers with ideas for new products that can help eradicate rats, stoats and possums.

This work has been enabled through a grant from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF).

$19.5 million of funding was announced from the PGF in February this year to support projects in provincial surge regions and the development of innovative techniques that will help reduce reliance on ongoing 1080 use.

“We’ve been impressed by the level of interest received,” said Predator Free 2050 Limited CEO Ed Chignell.

“We are looking for new projects and products that will be game changers for regional development and our national predator free effort; ones that can boost native wildlife, nature and cultural tourism, and jobs in operations and technology.”

$12m funding will be made available to council, community and iwi-led projects selected from surge regions – Northland, the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne/Tairawhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu-Whanganui and the West Coast. Expressions of interest have been received from groups from within in each region.

$6.5m is available for fast tracking new tools and technology such as ground control devices, lures, species-specific toxins, AI-equipped cameras, drones and remote sensors, and wireless and data platforms.

The company will consider detailed proposals and discuss them with shortlisted proposing parties over the next couple of months and will begin announcing funding decisions in June. It expects around three large landscape projects and 10 technology projects will be funded from the PGF grant.

In 2017 Predator Free 2050 Limited’s first, nationwide Expression of Interest process attracted 45 proposals and five projects were launched last year, in Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Dunedin and Waiheke Island.

The Crown-owned, charitable company’s investment of $23m in these projects will enable operational work of around $66.5m to be carried out over the next five years, through matching contributions from councils, philanthropic groups and landowners. This will enable 210,00 ha to be brought under predator suppression, with 42,300 ha targeted for eradication of at least one predator species.

ENDS

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