Protecting our native plants, animals and wild places, on land and in our oceans. Help us to help nature.
Saving Our Environment
We’re working hard to protect our environment for future generations.
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Having evolved in isolation for 80 million years, New Zealand has forged an evolutionary path that is radically different from the rest of the world. Our native plants, animals and wild places are like no others on this planet.
Despite the fact that our country was the last habitable land mass to be occupied by humans, it has taken us less than 800 years to wipe out a significant amount of this unique evolutionary history.
The burning & logging of ancient forests, the introduction of pests and the loss of habitat through urbanisation and development are just some of the major factors that have contributed to more than 50 extinctions in the past 500 years.
It is too late to bring back the moa or any other extinct species, but we can help our unique native species that still struggle to survive. They’re ours. Let’s not lose them.
Native Plants and Animals
The tuatara, kiwi, kokako, saddleback, kakapo, native frogs and giant carnivorous land snails are just some of the species that are uniquely ours. Since our formation in 1923, Forest & Bird has played a vital role in turning around their precarious situation. More
Freshwater Environments
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Our freshwater systems and their inhabitants are under significant strain from agricultural run-off, hydro dams and drainage. Find out what Forest & Bird is doing to help save our freshwater species, such as the blue duck, from these threats. More
High Country
The home of native tussock, rare native brooms, mountain grasshoppers, scree skinks, kea, rock wrens and the alpine weta, our iconic high country is integral to our identity as New Zealanders. Forest & Bird is working to ensure that we protect it for future generations to enjoy. More
Threats & Impacts
Having battled ice-ages, mass extinctions and volcanic eruptions, our native species were completely unprepared for the destructive impact of human habitation. If we better understand the threats and impacts of our activities, we can better protect them. More
Climate Change
Climate change is predicted to have a serious impact on our plants and animals – if we don’t act now up to one third of the world’s land-based species could be extinct in 50 years. The tuatara, albatrosses and bats are just some of the species that may be severely affected. More
Marine and Coastal
As guardians of an ocean area that is 15 times the size of our landmass, New Zealanders have a responsibility to protect our diverse sea-life. Our sea-lions, sharks and Hector’s dolphins are just some of the marine species that Forest & Bird is helping to protect. More