Forest and Bird Recognises Outstanding Conservation Efforts

Forest and Bird, Issue 313, 1 August 2004, Page 42

Forest and Bird Recognises Outstanding Conservation Efforts

he presentation of Forest and Bird’s ‘Old Blue’ awards, which recognise outstanding contributions to conservation, was a highlight of the June Council meeting. Taking their name from the last female Chatham Island robin, which then went on to save the species, the "Old Blue’ awards carry descriptive citations, abbreviated below: Ruth Dalley and Lance Shaw are passionate believers in conservation of marine environments, especially in Fiordland and Southland. They led the way showing that tourism in Fiordland can be about protecting marine life and the wilderness, and does not need the addition of recreational fishing in order to run a highly successful naturebased business. Cruising the waters of the region on board their vessel ‘Breaksea Girl’, they believe in educating and inspiring passengers with their great knowledge of, and passion for, marine life in the subantarctic and Fiordland. They are tireless advocates for the environment using the Resource Management Act as a valuable tool. Often working in the face of strong local criticism, they are courageous in their fight to keep other tourism operators honest, and help strengthen DoC and Environment Southland’s enforcement duties. Basil Graeme has been an untiring and courageous advocate for conservation both in his local community and around the country. Many native forests and shrublands owe their survival to the creation of the New Zealand Forest Accord, in which Basil played a key role. Many District and Regional Plans include conservation measures, thanks to Basil's

meticulous submissions and dogged perseverance. Often ahead of public opinion, he has never shied away from difficult and unpopular conservation issues and, over time, has seen once-radical ideals become accepted policy. He is presently chairman of Tauranga Forest and Bird, and has been a member of the national executive, and previously was the Society’s field officer for the central North Island. Bill Garland, with his wife Sue, farms on the western slopes of Maungatautari in the southern Waikato. Regionally and nationally, Bill has served on major boards and committees connected to the land, including Federated Farmers, the Animal Health Board, the advisory committee for Regional Environment, advisory committee for Landcare Research, the Waikato Conservation Board, and as deputy chair of the Queen Elizabeth I National Trust, chair of the Farm Environment Award Trust, and the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust. He is a life-long tramper. Bill’s father made one of the

first QEII covenants, with 12 hectares of bush, and Bill followed with another 13 hectares. Walking round his farm, one can appreciate why it was chosen as the site to launch the National Biodiversity Strategy. The bush is fenced and streams run clean. It is, however, in his persistent and relentless campaigning for care of the land and its biodiversity that Bill leaves his mark. Bill Garland was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to farming and conservation in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. The award to Allan McKenzie of the Department of Conservation acknowledges a lifetime of extraordinary effort in conservation from someone who has worked all his life within the Public Service. Allan is not alone in this work but his contribution is outstanding. He worked closely with Forest and Bird in his early career with the Nature Conservation Council when conservation had few friends in Government. Allan helped lead Government efforts to save native forests. When DoC was formed, Allan

championed the importance of public involvement, particularly in conservation boards when their future was jeopardised. He has played a lead role in the saving of the West Coast forests including coordinating the review of the Timberlands forests and their ultimate allocation to DoC. He has also put a huge and increasingly successful effort into seeking protection for the forests created by the South Island Landless Natives Act, largely in Southland, where he is the Government's chief negotiator. For the last 15 years Allan has been the Manager of the Nature Heritage Fund. Raewyn Ricketts served four years as chairperson of the Hastings/Havelock North branch, four years on its committee and eight years as the leader of its Kiwi Conservation Club. She has initiated three major projects: The Friends of the Kawekas (a pressure group started in 1997 focussed on deer control in the Kaweka range), a native tree nursery and a storage nursery at Pekapeka Swamp. Raewyn started the plant nursery as a project for KCC. It now produces 4000 native trees each year, and is managed by Raewyn and her small band of volunteers while the children are involved in collecting seed and planting trees. Raewyn Ricketts also works with many schools, showing children how to propagate plants, supplying them with seeds and seedlings. She is also secretary of the Maraetotara Stream Enhancement Trust. Raewyn Ricketts was recognised late last year, by her own community, for her work with the Kiwi Conservation Club when she received a Natural Heritage Award from the Department of Conservation and Norsewear of New Zealand.