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Not Just Trees in the Ground: The Social and Economic Benefits of Community led Conservation Projects.
By | Aug 24, 2007
After recognising the lack of inquiry into the social and economical benefits of community involved ecological restoration, WWF (the World Wildlife Fund) New Zealand, has commisioned a recently released report on this topic. “Not Just Trees in the ground- the Social and Economic Benefits of Community lead conservation projects” focuses on three community involved projects in New Zealand which it supports through its habitat protection fund. These case studies are; the Whaingaroa Harbour care project, the Terangatahi o te Whenua trust and the Yellow Eyed Penguin trust. Short overviews of several other protected areas such as the Karori sanctuary and the benefits of these are also included.
This report is an eye opener as to the wide variety of benefits that this type of activity brings about to our society, economy and natural environment. Major benefits found over the three case studies included social and economic benefits in the form of cultural, educational, environmental, and physiological gains. This includes oppertunites for volunteers, reduced pest damage for farmers, support for the regeneration of the Maori culture, raised awareness of the natural environment, community cohesion and the creation of new business opportunities. WWF puts an emphasis on the fact that their focus is not only in ecological restoration, but also in encouraging the harmonious interactions between humans and the environment.
The report also briefly notes disadvantages of conservation projects such as increased traffic to rural areas, however it notes that the main focus is on the benefits, which overule all minor disadvantages.
The Whaingaroa Harbour Care project has benefited the local community in many ways. A healthier fishery, boost to local businesses from improved environmental quality of the harbour, employment and increased environmental skills. Community awareness and cohesion have also occurred, bringing in a different mixture of people than would usually be involved in the environment, the report notes.
The Te Rangatahi o te Whenua trusts Ngahere Toa programme is designed for troubled youth in our society. Participants said that connecting with nature helped them to deal with problems in their lives. They learned practical skills such as plant propagation, fencing, trapping and environmental monitoring skills. Cultural skills involve Maori beliefs and language education, and physcologically, personal self esteem, respect and values are taught. Economically, an estimated twenty have since found jobs in trapping, and further income generating activities are being investigated. Because the trust is largely funded by the habitat protection fund, it has saved the government a large amount in alternative education programmes. The trust also runs other programmes benefiting the wider community.
The yellow-eyed penguin trust has a membership of about 1800 people. It also involves an at risk youth programme, has economic benefits for the tourist industry and DOC and other community benefits common to the other two previously mentioned case studies.
This report is well set out in colour -coded sections, making it accessible and informative. It is an interesting and insightful read into an area of literature that has previously had little coverage. The overall conclusion is that community led conservation projects have many, major benefits to the volunteers themselves, the natural environment and the economy of New Zealand. I would recommend this report for anybody who would like read further into the details of the benefits of community ecological restoration projects for all members of society.
ISBN: 978-0-9582825-1-2
Buchan,D. 2007
WWF- New Zealand, Wellington.
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UVGrimace
August 26th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
I think it’s wonderful this report has been done.
As a member of an environmental care group in the Bay of Plenty, I would’ve thought this was a no-brainer!
Environmental restoration is one of those issues that brings our neighbourhood together as a community, and is particularly important in creating a place of honour for older people who have gardened their whole lives, and share this wisdom in such groups.
If you are not a member of such a group, contact your regional council and get involved - we’ve got one country, and we’ve nearly screwed it up, so let’s try and reverse the trend.