Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council
After the Kaikōura earthquakes in November 2016, we applied for Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) funding to help set up the SCAR project.
In 2019, $4.1 million was granted for the initial four years, following the immediate clean-up work from the Post Quake-Farming project, which was led by Beef and Lamb New Zealand and MPI.
Now, with another $2 million of funding granted, the SCAR team continues to work with MPI to build meaningful relationships with farmers and ultimately improve the health of our environment.
The SCAR project has meant farmers like Ian can look after their soil by preventing erosion and avoiding sediment entering our waterways.
For the last five years, Ian has received nearly 150 poplars each year from the SCAR fund to plant in and around at-risk areas, creating a stable landscape.
If the spacing and area of the poles planted met the criteria for MPI’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), then landowners could claim carbon credits for the poles as they grew over time. This helps to offset the cost and maintenance of planting the poles.
Ian said the best part about working with the SCAR team had been the advice and connections.
“It’s invaluable to have a technical team rubbing shoulders with farmers, getting their hands dirty and being a port of call if we have concerns or don’t understand something.
“We’re not always going to see eye to eye, but having the SCAR team there providing advice is a great stepping stone for creating long-term trust and collaboration with Environment Canterbury,” Ian said.
Building trust in North Canterbury
Senior land management and biodiversity advisor, Sam Thompson, said that initially, there was a lot of distrust and a lack of confidence in us from the North Canterbury community.
“Gates were being shut, and a strong movement around banning access.”
But the SCAR programme had been a leading engagement tool to start conversations in the community with the support to follow.
“The project has dramatically improved the community’s confidence in us to help find solutions rather than setting regulations and telling them what not to do,” Sam said.
As well as building positive relationships, we’ve provided landowners with access to environmental experts like ecologists, biodiversity advisors and consent advisors.
“Gates have been opened both ways,” Sam said.
Landowners appreciate the simplicity of the process to apply for funding from SCAR.
Strong endorsements
Andrew Arps, North Canterbury water and land team leader:
Andrew said the SCAR programme had been a game changer for building trust and achieving results despite wider challenges.
“The combination of a clear approach, the right team, and consistent follow-through has opened farm gates and opened minds, leading to new opportunities and genuine partnerships with landowners.”
Louise Askin, MPI senior adviser for the Hill Country Erosion Programme:
Louise said they were pleased with how we had grown the SCAR project over the past six years.
“The Council’s strong advisory support and financial assistance are helping North Canterbury farmers address the unique challenges in protecting their farms’ most vulnerable land.”