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WWF staff Aotearoa

WWF media release – for immediate release

Calling all new ideas for nature

WWF awards to help conservation innovators

Kiwi innovators from across the country could win a share of $90,000 to develop fresh ideas that benefit conservation, in a new national awards scheme launched today.

The first ever WWF-New Zealand Conservation Innovation Awards seeks to showcase novel and effective ways to support communities to protect and restore our unique biodiversity. First prize in each of three categories – product, project and research – is a $25,000 grant, with three runner-up grants of $5,000 each.

“New Zealanders have a proud history as conservation pioneers, inventing ground-breaking traps and tranquiliser darts that are now used throughout the world,” said WWF-New Zealand Head of Conservation Projects Lee Barry. “We’re searching the whole country for the next great idea. If you think your concept or design could make a real difference, we want to hear from you.”

The awards are part of WWF’s long-term approach to enabling the voluntary and community conservation sectors to be as effective as possible.

“Common conservation activities – such as checking ground predator traps – can be time consuming and back-breaking. The scale of the task to protect and restore New Zealand’s special places and species means we need to develop smarter and more effective tools.

“Whether you are in the field, in a lab, a back shed or a design studio, we want to hear about your new ideas for nature. The grants for the best entries will provide much-needed capital to take these innovations to the next stage, and ultimately to deploy them to benefit our hard working volunteer conservation army across the country,” said Ms Barry.

Judging will be by a panel of experts across the fields of research, practical conservation projects, and product design. Devon McLean, Director of Project Janszoon and awards judge, welcomed the initiative: “New Zealand leads the world in many innovative aspects of conservation but there is so much more to be done! These Awards create an opportunity to help great ideas see the light of day. We are looking for key concepts or tools that empower and inspire our communities in the challenge to secure the future of our unique biodiversity.”

Entries are open until 30 September. Award winners will be announced at an event in Conservation Week, 1-9 November 2014. More details and guidelines for applicants can be found at: www.wwf.org.nz/innovation

Tags: WWF