Steps to help restore the rapidly eroding Waiapu catchment on East Cape

The One Billion Trees Fund is investing up to five million dollars over the next 10 years.

It will go into building debris dams, a river corridor project, a riparian planting nursery, and bolstering of the labour force.

Forestry Minister Shane Jones says if nothing is done the community will face significant social, economic and environmental costs.

About eight hectares of Waiapu's productive flats are lost each year to erosion - which would cost around 28 million dollars in lost productivity and land by 2028.