Ministry for the Environment to sponsor Ballance Farm Environment Award
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
A new toolkit to help the development of capability and education for catchment leaders and coordinators has been unveiled.
The Catchment Toolkit, a new website, was launched last month as part of NZ Landcare Trust’s ACE programme. The ACE Programme is a NZ Landcare Trust project, funded by the Ministry for the Environment (from the Essential Freshwater Fund) and supported by Fonterra.
“The Catchment Toolkit is a go-to resource hub, designed to empower and educate community-based catchment leaders and coordinators,” explains NZ Landcare Trust chief executive Nick Edgar.
“Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just beginning your journey in catchment management, this toolkit provides a wealth of information, knowledge and tools.”
He says the website consolidates a comprehensive online library housing numerous resources and offers a one-stop shop for everything catchment-related.
“This marks a significant stride towards fostering sustainable land management practices and is particularly noteworthy for us at NZ Landcare Trust, given our unwavering dedication to championing clean waterways and sustainable land management practices for the past 26 years.”
Edgar says ACE’s commitment to knowledge dissemination spans three core pillars:
"The Catchment Toolkit is the home of the ACE programme and the portal for its online learning,” Edgar adds.
“We’ve been dedicated to the realisation of the ACE program for the past 15 years. The launch of the ACE Catchment Toolkit is a true testament to our commitment as an organisation to empowering communities.”
Edgar believes the Catchment Toolkit, with a focus on building the capabilities of catchment groups, is set to create a lasting impact on sustainable land management practices and water quality improvements for generations to come.
Registrations of interest for the programme are now open.
Bradley Wadsworth lives on the family farm – Omega Station – in the Wairarapa about 30 minutes’ drive east from Masterton.
With global milk prices falling, the question is when will key exporting countries reach a tipping point where production starts to dip.
Rural contractors want the Government to include a national standard for air plans as part of its Resource Management Act reforms.
The biggest reform of local government in more than 35 years is underway.
An industry-wide project led by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is underway to deal with the rising number of feral pests, in particular, browsing pests such as deer and pigs.
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.

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