Work of Forest and Bird Members Recognised by Local Authorities and Government

Forest and Bird, Issue 302, 1 November 2001, Page 39

Work of Forest and Bird Members Recognised by Local Authorities and Government

he names of Forest and Bird members were to the fore in environmental awards made in several parts of New Zealand this year. Among those advised to Branching Out were awards made by regional councils in Wellington and Auckland, and national recognition for a South Canterbury member by the Minister for the Environment to mark World Environment Day. Russell Langdon of Ashburton received a 2001 Green Ribbon Award from the Minister for the Environment, Hon. Marion Hobbs, for his work in ‘Caring for our biodiversity’. His work included the development of the Hawthorn Wood Wildfowl and Wetland Reserve, and a captive breeding programme for endangered waterfowl. To mark Conservation Week in the Wellington conservancy of the Department of Conservation, the Minister, Hon. Sandra Lee, presented a range of awards which included recognition of the work of Forest and Bird. The Upper Hutt branch of Forest and Bird was recognised for ‘its ongoing commitment and hard work to the restoration of bush remnants of

the Hutt Valley’. The work included wilding pine eradication and predator control in the Upper Hutt area. In the individual volunteer category, distinguished life member Stan Butcher of Lower Hutt was recognised for his long-term commitment to restoration, environmental education and community awareness projects. In 1981 he joined a planting group on Matiu/Somes Island and has continued to work fortnightly on the island since then, with Lower Hutt Forest and Bird. He also works fortnightly at Pauatahanui Inlet with Forest and Bird members, and served as trust board member and on the executive of Bushy Park, in the Wanganui district. Bill Milne of Lower Hutt Forest and Bird also received an award for his sustained dedication to a wide range of conservation projects in the Hutt Valley. Since retiring he has spent much of his time working as a conservation volunteer on at least seven long-term projects. Gary James and the Wellington Home Nursery Group were also recognised. They have produced 70,000 trees for planting in the

community over the past 10 years. Seeds of native plants and trees, including rare and endangered species, are locally sourced and grown by 20 local home nurseries in the scheme, for projects such as Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Manawa Karioi and Makara Peak.

Former North Shore Forest and Bird chair, Jim Lewis, was honoured in the biennial environmental awards of the Auckland Regional Council. The judges acknowledged that

Jim Lewis has worked up to 40 hours a week over the last five to seven years to provide an environmental voice on subdivision developments on the North Shore. His practical advice and suggestions to developers has won him respect among many development companies. As a result many forest remnants, wetlands and streams have been saved while development has proceeded. The Eco-Store in Freeman’s Bay, which is one of Forest and Bird’s corporate sponsors, won the Environmental Contributor of the Year Award, and also the business award. The judges noted the Eco-Store was developed as a cause-related business eight years ago to create a sustainable fund for environmental initiatives. One of two conservation awards made by the Department of Conservation in the Waikato region went to Tina Morgan of Upper Coromandel Forest and Bird for her restoration and conservation work in the upper Coromandel area. She has been co-ordinator for control of weeds and pests on large areas of private land, besides activities with tree planting and other community projects.