Two Government grants will help the Orokonui Ecosanctuary prepare for the reintroduction of kiwi, takahe and South Island robin next year.
Four Otago projects will receive a total of $109,881 from the Government's Biodiversity Funds, with the ecosanctuary receiving the lion's share.
Orokonui Ecosanctuary general manager Chris Baillie said she was delighted to receive the grants of $65,813 and $39,280.
The larger grant would help fund the employment of a conservation manager and enable a vegetation survey and management plan to be done.
The second grant would assist with weed control, pest monitoring and restoration planting.
Maintaining a pest-free sanctuary would enable the ecosanctuary to reintroduce South Island robin, takahe and kiwi by early next year, she said.
"These are special grants for a very special project,"Other Otago groups to receive grants were the Lake Waihola Waipori Wetlands Society ($2688) to assist with a comprehensive weed-assessment report, and the Waitati Beach Reserve Society ($2100) to contribute to fencing sand dunes at Doctors Point, Dunedin.
The Biodiversity Funds were established in 2000 for biodiversity protection projects and are distributed twice a year, with more than $2.5 million allocated in the latest funding round.
