7 August 2001
Greens welcome guide for individual conservation

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons today welcomed the launch of the practical guide that will help New Zealanders protect local patches of native plants and ecosystems.

The book "Protecting and Restoring our Natural Heritage - a practical guide" was produced from the Conservation Awareness funding in the Budget, initiated by the Green Party and agreed by the Government.

"A big number of New Zealand's indigenous species are endemic. They can be found only in New Zealand and a lot of them are on private land. People who own native forest would like to protect it, but until now they did not have practical information to help them.

"This is another crucial step in turning around our declining natural heritage by empowering people to do their own conservation," she said.

"It encourages land owners to retain and develop their sense of guardianship over native forests and wildlife habitats; and gives additional recognition and protection to the habitats of species threatened with extinction," said Ms Fitzsimons.

The launch of the guide is a part of Conservation Week celebrations with the theme 'Unique New Zealand - Te Whenua Ahurei'. The week is focused on New Zealand's unique natural and cultural heritage and on the plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world apart from New Zealand.

"The Government has worked with the Green Party to recognize in the Budget the need to involve communities in conservation alongside Department of Conservation. We welcome the guide, and are delighted that we are able to continue translating the Green vision into reality," said Ms Fitzsimons.

ENDS

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