Forest and Bird Council Meets at Wanganul

Forest and Bird, Issue 303, 1 February 2002, Page 39

Forest and Bird Council Meets at Wanganul

ouncillors representing the branches of Forest and Bird throughout New Zealand gathered at Wanganui in November to advise on the running of the Society and to observe conservation issues in the region. The meeting (panorama above) was based at the Friends Centre at the Quaker Settlement. Sessions included a report on efforts by the Department of Conservation to ‘restore the Pai 4 oe

dawn chorus’ through pest control, outlined by the Director-General of Conservation, Hugh Logan, and ‘mainland islands’ expert Alan Saunders. Working sessions included: raising the Society’s profile and building membership; conservation on private land; protecting highcountry values and the need for more parks there; the crisis with marine farming and other coastal protection issues; genetic engineering (see page 40),

environmental eduation, and ideas to inspire communities to restore nature. (Distinguished life member Gordon Stephenson, talked about inspiring rural communities, outdoors, left below). Supplementary field trips involved a choice between visiting the Society’s forest reserve at Bushy Park (see Conservation Briefs, page 10), or to Whitiau Scientific Reserve to see rare duneland plants with botanist Colin Ogle. (Lunching

in the reed beds at Whitiau, bottom left). Social occasions — an opportunity to exchange views on the Society and conservation work informally — included a short trip up the Whanganui River aboard the restored paddle-steamer Waimarie, (centre below) and a barbecue hosted by the Wanganui branch of Forest and Bird (their members can be seen serving guests below). -- tts