Conservation sponsoring worries environmentalists

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 264, 22 November 1988, Page 5

Conservation sponsoring worries environmentalists

Conservation projects may be sponsored by commercial businesses in the future, a move that is worrying some environmentalists. They say the move could see companies with bad reputations environmentally, use sponsorship deals to create an impression of concern for the environment, which in some cases could be a false impression of a company. The Department is

looking at the idea to find funds for projects which are impossible under its tight budget. Schemes might see labour and materials for a particular project being paid for by a company in return for publicising of the firm's involvement in the project for advertising. Department officers say they are well aware of the possible conflict of interest and that DoC wouldn't allow its place as an independent advocate for conserva-

tion be compromised. Any firm involved would have its conservation record considered before sponsorship could be accepted to avoid criticism that the department was selling off conservation interests. Environmental groups have said they would be happy to see "environmentally clean" companies involved in sponsorship deals, but only such companies.