Catchment Care
Catchment Care is an exciting initiative between Conservation Volunteers New Zealand and Fonterra to protect and maintain our country's valuable waterways and wetlands.
The programme has proved to be an extremely successful formula. Since its launch in August 2009, over one million square metres of land has been improved, nearly 80,000 trees planted, involving 4800 volunteer days. A very wide range of partners have been involved, including farmers, local community groups, councils and DoC. The partnership with Fonterra allows work to improve critically endangered habitats.
Lake Serpentine – Waikato Peat Lakes
This exceptional lake is one of the very few remaining peat lake systems in the Waikato region that has retained many of its unique characteristics and spectacular native aquatic plant communities free of invasive submerged weeds. Long and short-finned eels, common bully and a lake-bound population of smelt are found in the Lakes, along with fourteen species of water birds including the threatened grey duck, Australasian bittern, dabchick, spotless crake and banded rail. The Waikato Peat Lakes are nationally significant and are the largest collection of this type of wetland in New Zealand. Globally, peat lakes are a rare phenomenon. Catchment Care volunteers have spent over 87 days working at Lake Serpentine alone, planting trees, removing weeds and many other tasks. Without this contribution the lake ecosystem would be severely threatened.
Our teams of volunteers will be working on water care projects throughout New Zealand. Projects include preventing erosion by planting and fencing along streamlines, weeding to remove invasive plants from waterways, controlling pests, collecting seeds and clearing rubbish.
What People are saying about Catchment Care:
“Thanks do much for the assistance of the CVNZ team. They are such a bright, cheerful and positive group of people.They have given us a great boost of motivation with our riparian project. A big thank-you to Fonterra for their financial help and recognition of those suppliers committed to the Clean Streams Accord”
Julie Burwell, Dairy farmer
“Conservation Volunteers have done a fantastic job that has made a real difference and we have received much favourable comment from fellow farmers and visitors to the farm ….As a Fonterra shareholder, I am really proud that our company supports such worthwhile work.”
Mike Moss – Raglan Organic Dairy Farmer
“We would like to say a big thank you for Fonterra for providing CVNZ volunteers to come and help us. The volunteers were fantastic and did an excellent job. Having the use of the volunteers has given us a great morale boost.”
Lou Wigram, Putaruru dairy farmer