Background

Development of the toolbox in New Zealand is being led by Action Bio-Community. The intent of this project is to facilitate the building the capacity across local government to manage biodiversity outside of public conservation lands. The project is funded by the Sustainable Management Fund and sponsored by Local Government New Zealand. It was part of Central Government's "Biodiversity on Private Land" package launched in December 2000, at the end of consultation undertaken by John Kneebone and the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Biodiversity on Private Land ("Bio-what?"), and the release of the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy in February 2000.

In particular, the project has focussed on developing a "toolbox", as a way of providing a more coherent approach to biodiversity across the local government sector, and to strengthen links to other resources available on line and from other organisations. The three arms of work being undertaken to build capacity are:

• Developing leadership
• Building the toolbox
• Facilitating wide participation in projects to develop and apply the toolbox.

The toolbox was initially built by Glen Lauder and Sarah Wilson as project coordinators during 2002-2004. The toolbox was tested and discussed at the National Bio-Summit held in Wellington in June 2004. Since that time there have been further developments and additions to the core tools.