News and Events
Envirolink Update 23 January 2012
Advice Grant Funding
Additional Advice Grant funding is being made availalable, but all projects funded this year are due for completion before 30 June 2012. Eligible councils have been asked to submit project proposals as soon as possible, and strategic discussions are taking place on additional projects that will fit the Envirolink Criteria.
Tool Round
The following Tool Projects are being developed into full proposals to be assessed by MSI before funding is approved to commence 1 July 2012:
8-1 National environmental monitoring standards
The NEMS steering group is seeking $90,000 from the Envirolink Tool Funding process to enable the transfer of research knowledge from NIWA to the development of seven national standards relating to the acquisition of continuous (or regularly monitored) data series for a range of environmental parameters. The research knowledge held by NIWA is imperative to enhance the national standards being developed. This research knowledge is often held within an aging workforce within NIWA and requires a conduit (National Standards) to allow its national application.
8-2 Maximising the effectiveness of farm plans
The project will produce a tool to link resource management issues identified at catchment scale, with good management practices that may be applied at farm scale. The tool would extend the capability of the CLUES model by improving linkages to on-farm nutrient management via Overseer, and linking it to appropriate diffuse pollution attenuation tools implemented through a farm plan process.
8-3 Guidelines for monitoring land fragmentation
A national framework for quantifying land fragmentation issues, drivers (including socio-economic) and establishing monitoring is required to underpin sound and effective policy development. The proposed tool will characterise and quantify land fragmentation and its impacts on land and soil resources, capturing existing issues and drivers as well as developing guidelines for nationally consistent monitoring.
Regional Council Revised RS&T Strategy
The revised Strategy has been launched with key Govt departments and CRIs. The revised version is on this website under "Research Strategy". There is also an accompanying document containing Special Interest Groups Research Priorites.
