Project Crimson welcomes promise of millions more native trees

The Project Crimson Trust has been successfully restoring and protecting New Zealand native trees for almost 30 years. Trees That Count is the charity’s newest venture and is New Zealand’s only native tree marketplace - increasing planting rates by attracting funding and matching it with trees for planting groups throughout the country.

In May, Trees That Count was announced as one of the first programmes to receive support from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund as part of their One Billion Trees Programme. This funding is for regional outreach to support local planting groups and to target efforts to attract further participation from the business sector and the general public.

“As one of the Government’s partners in the One Billion Trees programme, we are thrilled to see the Government’s announcement this week that as many as two-thirds of the One Billion Trees planted will be native,” says Project Crimson Chief Executive, Adele Fitzpatrick.

Trees That Count currently has the only live national tree count which tracks and maps the number of native trees planted, bringing together the full spectrum of planting activity.

“We anticipate native trees planted as part of any Government funding will be included as part of our count, which is nearly at 19 million trees,” says Fitzpatrick.

“Everyone has a part to play; families planting native trees at home or gifting them to celebrate milestones are an integral part of our tree count. Corporates also have a huge role to play. Our Marketplace has attracted a lot of attention from some of New Zealand’s largest, most innovative companies. It’s important this momentum does not slow down, as the challenge ahead of us is bigger than just Government alone.”

Forestry Minister, Hon. Shane Jones said central Government had an important role to play in driving the right settings to ensure iwi, landowners, and NGOs like Trees That Count are encouraged to help meet this ambitious target.

“Trees That Count can help link us to the planting groups who need more native trees and together we can help get more trees in the ground. From day one, we’ve said reaching our One Billion Trees target will require everyone working together.”

ENDS

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