Awards open for innovative environment ideas

Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest), is one of thousands of kauri an award-winning, innovative app could help save. Photo/Michael Cunningham

There is a game-changing tool on the way in the war against the kauri dieback disease which is having a devastating effect on Northland's iconic tree species.

Thanks to the 2016 WWF-New Zealand Conservation Innovation Awards, sustainable land management group Groundtruth is some way toward developing a Stop Kauri Dieback app that supports community engagement and management of the disease.

The fungus-like disease with no known cure is killing kauri forests in Northland and elsewhere, and kauri could become extinct in some locations without urgent action.

Peter Handford and Daniel Bar-Even are behind Groundtruth and the Stop Kauri Dieback app which is being developed in discussion with organisations fighting to save kauri.

"Kauri dieback disease is having a devastating effect on the giants of our forest," Mr Handford said. "In the past 10 years kauri dieback has killed thousands of kauri.

"To save kauri, it is critical to discover where outbreaks are occurring as soon as possible and provide people with simple steps they can take to avoid spreading the disease."

Mr Handford said the app would support all forest visitors, trampers, walkers and conservation volunteers to identify and record possible sightings - and take simple steps to avoid spreading it, like washing their boots or staying away from the area.

Game changing innovations are contesting the 2017 Conservation Innovation Awards, for which entries are open until October 15. A prize package of $25,000 will be awarded to each of three winners.

"The Conservation Innovation Awards celebrate Kiwi innovators whose bright ideas, like the Stop Kauri Dieback app, look set to make a real difference in the fight to protect our precious ecosystems and native species," said Livia Esterhazy, WWF-New Zealand's chief executive officer.

"We welcome big, bold, game-changing ideas, because conservation innovation is imperative."

The 2017 awards are supported by the Tindall Foundation, Department of Conservation, Callaghan Innovation, Predator Free 2050 and New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge.

To submit an idea: wwf-nz.crowdicity.com or visit www.wwf.org.nz/innovation