Conservation fund celebrates 25 years

Conservation fund celebrates 25 years of pohutukawa and rata regeneration

This year, volunteers in communities all around New Zealand will plant more than 10,000 eco-sourced pohutukawa and rata trees following the 2015 Project Crimson Community Restoration Programme which has recently opened for applications.

The Project Crimson Trust reviews applications from groups and individuals throughout New Zealand who aspire to create a long-term benefit to their local community through conservation projects involving eco-sourced pohutukawa and northern or southern rata trees. As well as trees, Project Crimson can provide funding to support a range of activities including fencing, possum control, site preparation and ongoing care and maintenance. The Trust also supports research designed to improve understanding of the ecology, or management options for pohutukawa and rata.

This year the Project Crimson Trust is celebrating 25 years of conservation work in New Zealand. Communications Manager, Melanie Seyfort says “It seems hard to believe but 25 years ago the future of pohutukawa looked bleak. Possums were out of control and in some parts of the country up 90% of coastal pohutukawa stands were gone. We have been overwhelmed with the support of New Zealanders across the country who have all contributed to bringing back our much loved tree from the threat of extinction. Such was the success of the project in the early days that our mandate broadened to a national focus, to include rata, and more recently a wider ecosystem focus. Over 25 years we have planted well over 600,000 native trees.”

“Project Crimson’s model of working at a community level to energise people around the protection of native ecosystems has been both enduring and inspiring. Our Community Restoration Programme aims to engage communities in the importance of the work, educate and advise them, provide support as a catalyst and encourage self sufficiency. For some of the projects we are proud to have provided support for years, where others only require assistance for a short time frame” adds Melanie.

The annual funding round closes on 1 May 2015. To apply go to www.projectcrimson.org.nz or contact the Project Crimson office on 0800 764 888 for further detail.

BACKGROUND

The Project Crimson Trust is a leading conservation organisation in New Zealand, established in 1990. Project Crimson have made impressive progress re-establishing pohutukawa and rata nationwide by planting trees, coordinating and supporting a wide range of maintenance activities, scientific research, possum control programmes and public education.
Project Crimson is supported by the Department of Conservation, Mazda and the Mazda Foundation, Ata Rangi wines, Rata by Josh Emett and Biolage hair products.

ENDS

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