3 May 2002 Organic Farm Recognised By Environment Canterbury

A three-year old organic farm at Lincoln University will be held up as an example of how biodiversity can co-exist with farming, when it receives special recognition from Environment Canterbury next Tuesday (7 May).

The Environment Enhancement Fund recognition ceremony, which media are welcome at, will take place at 10am at Kowhai Farm, Heinz Wattie's Organic Farm at Lincoln University. (Kowhai Farm's entrance is opposite Lincoln University's main entrance)

A plaque will be installed to recognise the site. A short tour of the farm will also take place.

Kowhai Farm is not your typical farm landscape. It features an intriguing mix of bumble bee motels (enhanced nest sites for bumble bees), beetle banks (wintering refuges for spiders and ground beetles) and plantings of native tussocks and trees. The combination of insects and native plants have helped reduce pests and stimulate production on the farm.

Environment Canterbury chairman Richard Johnson says the recognition award pays tribute to the work of the Selwyn Sustainable Agriculture Society, Lincoln University and sponsors Heinz Wattie's Australasia, who joined together to demonstrate how biodiversity could assist farmers.

"Kowhai Farm shows us that biodiversity can play an important role on the farm.

Native grasses and trees, and insects like bees, are normally thought of as "warm fuzzies". Nice to have, but not essential ingredients for farmers. Kowhai Farm indicates otherwise because they can also boost productivity."

Kowhai Farm's award follows three other site recognition awards made last year by Environment Canterbury under its Environment Enhancement Fund.

The other sites include: a restored wetland at Pleasant Valley, Geraldine; a native bush walkway at Omahu Bush in the Port Hills and a section of the Conway Coast, where more than 450 hectares of native bush has been fenced.

The Fund was launched by Environment Canterbury last year to support and recognise groups in Canterbury, working to protect and enhance indigenous plants or animals and their habitat. It has two categories – site recognition and funding support for biodiversity projects. As well as this year's site award to Kowhai Farm, more than $100,000 has been distributed to 27 projects throughout the region. The money is going towards bush protection, wetlands restoration, native planting and stream fencing work.

The Environment Enhancement Fund opens for the 2002 round in June. Application forms – for funding and recognition – can be found on the website www.ecan.govt.nz/Land/Awards/eef or by calling Customer Services at Environment Canterbury on (03) 365 3828 or 0800 EC INFO (0800 32 4636).

Environment Canterbury will increase funding going to community projects supporting biodiversity in Canterbury to $150,000 annually, from 2004.

Phil McGuigan, Land Sustainability Manager, Environment Canterbury, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Professor Steve Wratten, Kowhai Farm project, Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.