Canon calling for entries

To celebrate World Environment Day, Canon New Zealand is calling for entries to the Canon Environmental Grant, a $15,000 product grant awarded on an annual basis to assist environmental projects.

Individuals or organisations working on, or about to embark upon, a project that will impact positively on New Zealand's environment should apply for the product grant via Canon's website by 31 August 2007.

Tony Wills, Canon New Zealand's managing director, encourages anyone involved in environmental work to apply for the grant.

The Canon Environmental Grant for 2006 went to Bushy Park Education Centre, a science-based environmental education program located in the Bushy Park Reserve sanctuary near Wanganui.

The grant has equipped the education centre with digital still cameras, camcorders, fixed network cameras, binoculars and data projectors to observe habits and behaviours to better understand and ultimately protect the indigenous species within the sanctuary and control the pests lurking outside its perimeter.

"Winning the Canon Environmental Grant has meant visiting classes have been able to better capture and share their experiences, which means they'll be better placed to educate the wider community about what can be done to sustain our indigenous species and ensure their survival into the future," said Bushy Park Education Centre spokesman Terry O'Connor.

"It has also meant pupils can actively participate in investigations which will improve the control of the pest species."

The successful applicant will be notified in September, and the product will be gifted shortly afterwards.