DIRECTORY ENTRY

Originally formed to protect our native forests and birds, our role has since grown to include protection of all native species and wild places, – on land and in our oceans, lakes and rivers.

We give nature a voice. We speak for all our threatened species and fragile places - from endangered Maui’s dolphins to high-country tussock-lands.

New Zealand’s territory covers an area of ocean many times greater than our land mass, and is home to many itinerant species, such as sea-birds and marine mammals.

We work with other environmental organisations, such as BirdLife International, on environmental issues in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone, the wider Pacific and in Antarctica.

We are not a government organisation and do not receive government funding – we rely on the generosity of our members’ subscriptions, donations and bequests to carry out our conservation work.

Forest & Bird is New Zealand’s longest-serving conservation organisation, formed in 1923 in response to widespread extinction of native species and destruction of our native forests.

Since it was formed Forest & Bird has played an active role in preserving New Zealand’s environment and native species. We have helped establish protection for a third of our country’s land in parks and reserves, put an end to logging of our native forests and helped bring species such as the kakapo and kokako back from the brink of extinction.

We have grown to number 70,000 members and supporters.

Our members love New Zealand nature. They are planters, weed-busters, educators, pest controllers, environmental lobbyists and climate change activists. They are people who care passionately about New Zealand’s unique and special natural environment and native species – and want to make sure that these natural treasures are protected so that they can continue to be enjoyed by future generations.

By enlisting the support and environmental vision of our members, our staff work to bring about better legislation and policy that supports environmental protection.