Project Janszoon wins international environment award

Project Janszoon wins international environment award

19 October 2015

Project Janszoon’s environmental work in the Abel Tasman National Park has today been recognised at the international Green World Environment Awards.

Project Janszoon was named the worldwide Gold Winner in the Conservation, Habitat and Diversity section of the Green World Environment Awards. It also won the conservation section for New Zealand as part of the Green Apple Awards.

Over 20 years the Green World Awards and associated Green Apple Awards have become established as the UK’s major recognition for international environmental endeavour amongst countries, companies and communities. Project Janszoon competed against more than 500 other nominations from countries as diverse as the United Kingdom, Poland, Malaysia and Korea.

Project Janszoon Director Devon McLean says he was delighted to receive the awards at a presentation in Christchurch.

“It is wonderful to have international recognition for a conservation project in New Zealand. This award acknowledges the work of the Project Janszoon team and our partners, the Department of Conservation and the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust,” he says.

2015 has also seen Project Janszoon win both the Supreme Award and Philanthropy and Partnership category, at New Zealand’s premier environmental awards, the Green Ribbon Awards.

Department of Conservation Director General Lou Sanson says international recognition of Project Janszoon’s leadership in conservation is well deserved.

“The Janszoon Trust is at the forefront of private-public partnerships in conservation here and is making great strides working with DOC and the community to restore nature in our most popular national park. The award puts Janszoon and New Zealand on the world stage for our collaborative conservation work,” says Lou Sanson.

Project Janszoon is a privately funded trust named after explorer Abel “Janszoon” Tasman. Over a 30-year time frame it is working with DOC, the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust, the community and iwi to reduce predator numbers and weeds, restore eco-systems, and re-introduce native birds, animals and plants in the Abel Tasman National Park.

The Green World Awards are organised by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world. They are supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management and other independent bodies.

ENDS

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