Weird air funnel bit that goes around gear stick and under seats?

[Z4MCSL]

I have been stripping my car and there is a Weird air funnel bit that goes around gear stick and under seats? What does this do and is it important?

Can I bin it? is it part of the venting for the heater? If so I really never knew it came out there?!

 

[JamesBryan]

For the heater yeah

To get air to the rear footwells.