About the SLM Hill Country Erosion Fund
The SLM Hill Country Erosion Fund is part of the Sustainable Land Management (Hill Country Erosion) Programme, which provides targeted government support to communities that need to protect erosion-prone hill country while recognising that, wherever possible, farmers seek to retain the maximum practical production from their land.
Regional councils and unitary authorities may apply for funding for projects that assist hill-country farmers to treat erosion-prone land and implement sustainable management practices. Through the fund, $2 million per year is available for regional initiatives. Projects may be funded for up to four years.
Heavy rain and other adverse weather events can increase the risk of erosion in the hill country. Erosion leads to flooding, which in turn can devastate farm production. Serious floods place huge social and financial costs on rural and urban communities. Stabilisation of land at risk of slipping will guard against this.
What the fund can be used for
Funds can be used for regional initiatives that:
- protect unstable or potentially unstable land;
- protect stream banks;
- support community catchment facilitation groups;
- plan or implement erosion protection programmes;
- educate owners of hill country;
- provide resources for protection programmes.
What the fund cannot be used for
The fund cannot be used for:
- projects that primarily focus on:
- purchasing land,
- commercial forestry,
- lower catchment infrastructure (roads, stop banks),
- water quality improvement,
- carbon sequestration,
- biodiversity;
- land management programmes covering an area of less than 10 000 hectares;
- retrospective costs;
- activities more appropriately funded by other funding bodies or organisations;
- local or central government fees or charges;
- participation in statutory processes, litigation or resource inventory work.
- There are other funds that may be more suitable for supporting these types of work.
Who can apply to the fund
Regional councils and unitary authorities may submit applications for funding.
Community groups and landowners are not eligible to apply to the fund, but can participate in regional initiatives that are supported by the fund.
Contact for Enquiries
HCE Project Adviser
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
WELLINGTON 6140
Telephone: (04) 894 0632
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