Taranaki trees

Forest and Bird, Issue 279, 1 February 1996, Page 7

Taranaki trees

Jane Wynyard

A TREE PROTECTION group established to protect dwindling indigenous forests in Taranaki may become a role model for others around the country. Facilitator of the Taranaki Tree Trust, Maggie Bayfield, says the trust was set up in 1992 with representatives from a variety of organisations, to help fund regional and local projects aimed at protecting Taranaki’s natural heritage. "A group of local people including Forest and Bird representatives saw the gap between the national funding available from bodies such as Forest Heritage and what landowners themselves were able to afford to protect," said Mrs Bayfield. "There are lots of valuable areas of forest in Taranaki, but many landowners can’t afford to do the work." In the lush dairy country on the Taranaki ring plain, much of the forest has been cleared and only a few remnants remain. But the Taranaki hill forests are being heavily

Vv targeted by loggers all over the North Island before the Forests Amendment Act takes full effect in July. "We’re trying to encourage landowners to protect their forest remnants," says Bayfield. Boosted by a cash injection of $100,000 from ECNZ, the trust is innovative in gaining institutional support. It has worked with organisations as diverse as Soroptimists, the Natural Gas Corporation, the New Plymouth District Council and DoC. Other sources of funds include public donations and money raised from the annual TSB Bank "Around the Mountain" relay race. Projects that receive funding are managed by agencies such as the Department of Conservation, QEII National Trust and district councils. Each project is carefully evaluated and must satisfy strict ecological criteria before funds are provided. The Taranaki Regional Council administers the trust

free of charge which means there are minimal overheads and all donations and funding go directly to the projects. Maggie Bayfield claims the trust has achieved more than it ever expected in such a short time. "As a local communityfocused group, we are able to capitalise on the parochial interest which Taranaki-based projects generate."