Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand

Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
Name	Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
Founded	1923
Founder	Vic Cussen
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Wellington
Area served	New Zealand
Focus	Conservation

Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand is an independent conservation organisation active in New Zealand's environmental advocacy, species protection, and habitat restoration. The organisation operates nationwide from a headquarters in Wellington and maintains branches in regions including Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, and Wellington Region. It engages with statutory processes such as those under the Resource Management Act 1991, the Conservation Act 1987, and interactions with agencies like Department of Conservation (New Zealand).

History

Founded in 1923 amid rising concern for native species, the society emerged during the interwar period alongside other groups such as the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society movements and international conservation efforts like the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Early campaigns targeted threats from introduced mammals including brushtail possum incursions, and sought protections reminiscent of later statutes like the Fauna Protection Act 1937. Throughout the 20th century the organisation intersected with notable events and figures including advocacy during debates over Tongariro National Park, involvement with proposals affecting Fiordland National Park, and responses to infrastructure projects such as the Manapouri Power Station development. Post-1990 activities included litigation and submissions concerning the Resource Management Act 1991 reforms and conservation strategies relating to native bush and coastal marine areas.

Mission and Objectives

The society's stated mission is to protect and restore native species and native habitats across New Zealand. Objectives prioritise advocacy for statutory protections under instruments like the Conservation Act 1987, securing reserves comparable to Kauri Grove protections, promoting predator control against stoat, rat, and possum populations, and influencing policy on land use in regions such as Southland, Canterbury Plains, and the Hawke's Bay Region. The organisation coordinates with international mechanisms such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and regional strategies like the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy to align local action with global commitments.

Organisation and Governance

Governance is administered by an elected national council supported by regional branch committees in locations including Northland Region, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington Region, and Marlborough. Operational management involves employed staff working on legal advocacy, science, and community engagement, liaising with statutory bodies like Environment Court of New Zealand and agencies including Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand). The society's structure enables partnership projects with organisations such as Landcare Research, Forest Research Institute, and community groups linked to initiatives like Predator Free 2050.

Campaigns and Conservation Work

Notable campaigns have addressed protection of species like the kākāpō, kiwi, tūī, and kākā, alongside habitat campaigns for areas such as Rimutaka Range, Coromandel Peninsula, Banks Peninsula, and Great Barrier Island (New Zealand). Work includes restoration projects, advocacy against logging in native forests like those in West Coast and protection efforts for wetlands in Manawatū-Whanganui. The society has campaigned on marine issues including marine reserves comparable to Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve and responses to aquaculture proposals affecting the Hauraki Gulf. Legal and policy campaigns have led to public submissions on proposals involving State Highway 1, resource consents before Regional Councils of New Zealand, and judicial reviews in the High Court of New Zealand.

Publications and Education

The society publishes a regular magazine and briefing papers on topics ranging from biodiversity policy to species accounts for taxa such as tuatara, bellbird, and wētā. Educational outreach includes school programmes tied to curricula in regions like Auckland and Wellington Region, citizen science projects analogous to monitoring by New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, and community volunteer days for revegetation in partnership with trusts such as Queen Elizabeth II National Trust and groups active in the Trees That Count initiative.

Membership and Funding

Membership comprises local branch members, life members, and supporters across provincial centres including Hamilton and Christchurch. Funding sources include membership subscriptions, donations, bequests, grants from philanthropic bodies comparable to the Lottery Grants Board (New Zealand), and project funding from public and private foundations. Collaborative funding partnerships have been formed with entities like Forest Stewardship Council-aligned projects and regional councils such as Auckland Council for specific restoration works.

Criticism and Controversies

The society has faced criticism from sectoral stakeholders including some agricultural organisations in the Canterbury Plains and resource-development proponents over positions on land-use planning and water allocation disputes such as those in the Māori Land Court-adjacent debates. Controversies have arisen around litigation tactics in cases before the Environment Court of New Zealand and public disagreements with bodies such as Fonterra and proponents of hydroelectric schemes in regions like Lake Manapouri. Internal debates over priorities—between species-focused recovery for taxa like the kākāpō and landscape-scale protections in places such as Fiordland—have sparked discussion among members and partner organisations including Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand International Affiliates (note: affiliate name illustrative).

Category:Conservation in New Zealand Category:Environmental organisations based in New Zealand