QEII National Trust has today released a report commissioned by the Department of Conservation (DOC), in conjunction with QEII National Trust, and the Minister of Conservation.

QEII National Trust Chair James Guild says “we welcome the Future Opportunities report and its recommendations.  This report recognises the unique value that QEII adds to protection of precious biodiversity in New Zealand and largely reinforces QEII thinking.”

Guild says “we believe this is a very timely report. Amongst land owners and the general public, there is an increasing desire to protect special places. We are also seeing greater social, economic and other pressures that are leading land owners to operate in a more environmentally aware way.”

“In this context, it’s clear that the time is right to ramp up our activities and look to protecting more of our precious taonga. We have paddock cred – the respect, trust and experience amongst land owners and the potential to grow this now.”

“We can add real value by extending our protection, being more innovative and flexible to protect corridors and buffer zones that can add to other protected areas.”

QEII National Trust CEO Mike Jebson says “organisationally we are prepared for growth and will continue to examine our structures and processes to ensure we are fit for the future and ready to deliver on an enhanced role in supporting New Zealand’s biodiversity.”

“We know our core business, and we do it well. Partnering with land owners to protect land will remain our focus while we build short, mid and long-term plans to expand our role to protect and enhance NZ’s natural heritage,” says Jebson.

“In order to seize the opportunities within this report, we are seeking early, increased investment from the Government and the community.  Increased investment will improve our ability to lead landscape level actions that are robust and enduring over time and to position us to deliver on a refreshed strategic plan for QEII,” Mike Jebson says.

Department of Conservation Director General Lou Sanson says “the report recognises the crucial role the QEII Trust plays in connecting private landowners with conservation initiatives that build on community efforts. We look forward to continuing our close working relationship in partnering for better conservation outcomes”.

The full report can be found here.

A note about the mention of Weed-busters’

Weed-busters’ is mentioned several times within the HenleyHutchings report ‘Future Opportunities:  QEII National Trust’, and it is important to clarify what is being referred to:

• Weedbusters NZ is an ongoing, interagency programme to raise awareness of weeds and encourage community engagement – not an organisation.
• The QEII Community Weedbusting Project was a three year joint Weedbusters NZ/QEII National Trust initiative funded through the DOC Community Fund to support on the ground weed control work being carried out by individuals and community groups on a range of land tenures (including, but not limited to, QEII covenanted land).  This project has now finished.

This has been a great project, and has provided a model that would be beneficial for localised weed control if further funding can be secured.