$1.3m in grants earmarked for biodiversity projects

Otago's Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust is one of the beneficiaries of Government grants worth a total of $1.3 million for projects aimed at helping biodiversity.

The trust is getting $52,000 in new funding to help save the penguin with work to restore coastal forest and control predators.

Environment Minister David Benson-Pope said more than 100 private and community projects were sharing the $1.3m in grants.

Conservation Minister Chris Carter said grants included fencing projects to help protect forests, wetlands, coastal habitat and river margins.

Other projects included pest management and trapping.

- NZPA