Museum Botanist wins premier Conservation Award

Museum Botanist wins NZ's premier Conservation Award

Ewen Cameron has won the prestigious Loder Cup for 2005.

Awarded annually for outstanding work with native plants. Administered by the Department of Conservation through the Loder Cup committee and awarded by the Minister of Conservation to the person, group or organisation submitting the best botanical entry.

The Loder Cup was instigated by the English aristocrat Gerald Loder, later Lord Wakehurst, who developed an outstanding selection of New Zealand and Southern Hemisphere plants on his estate in Surrey, England. He donated the Loder cup to New Zealand in 1926, to encourage and honour New Zealanders who work to investigate, promote, retain and cherish New Zealand's indigenous flora. The Loder Cup is entrusted to the Minister of Conservation, who appoints the Loder Cup Committee and awards the Cup. The Department of Conservation handles the administration of the award.

The Auckland Institute and Museum, in association with the name of its Botanist, Miss Lucy M Cranwell (Auckland Museum Botanist 1929-44), was awarded the Loder Cup in 1937, so Ewen is continuing a proud tradition.

In congratulating Ewen on winning this year’s award, the Minister has acknowledged Ewen’s decades of passionate commitment to botanical research and conservation, and his invaluable contribution to understanding and conserving the unique indigenous habitats and plants of northern New Zealand. The Minister noted Ewen’s work in building up an internationally recognised collection as Curator of Auckland Museum’s herbarium, and also his role as a leader in the wider community through his work with local and regional government and organisations like Forest and Bird, The New Zealand Botanical Society, the New Zealand Threatened Plants Committee and The Auckland Conservation Board.

The Minister of Conservation, Hon. Chris Carter will present the Loder Cup and a certificate to Ewan Cameron at a Department of Conservation celebration to mark the start of Conservation Week (1-7 August) at the Auckland Zoo Education Centre at 3pm Monday 1 August.

ENDS

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