PLANT IT 4WARD - Te Mauri

PLANT IT 4WARD
Te Mauri

An "Islands Of Life" Project



* INTRODUCTION *

Kamo Intermediate’s environmental project, Islands Of Life, is hoping to create a ‘ripple effect’ with its latest project ‘Plant It Forward – Te Mauri’. For the last four years, we have planted numerous native trees in our school grounds to attract the native birds back, after conducting a bird count and only counting eight birds. We have had great success building other environmental projects – a great worm farm (which we’re currently expanding), an eco-pond, mud brick wall and we recently planted a veggie garden and lots of swan plants. Our latest venture comes about after evidence found that the native bird population of New Zealand was under threat, and needed more food-bearing trees. Our ‘Plant It Forward’ project will encourage other schools to plant native food-bearing trees. We also encourage possum trapping and putting cat bells on cats.


* KAMO KIDS CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD *

Its 2005 – we’re off again around the schools, from the Far North to Auckland. Last year, we delivered 3 native trees to 102 different schools. Now some schools want a presentation, more trees, and more information about ‘Plant It Forward’, and about our successful ‘Islands Of Life’ project. Both projects are about PLANTING TREES TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR NATIVE BIRDS.


* COMMENTS MADE IN 2004 *

“…We would like to extend our thanks to you for the beautiful healthy native tree seedlings donated to our school to encourage our native birds to visit us more often.”

“…Thank you so much for your gift of three trees to our school. Sometimes in our busy lives we can forget just how much a gesture like that can mean to other people. It was very much appreciated by the staff, the children and myself.”

“…We wish to express our gratitude and thanks to those people from your Islands of Life Team who visited our school and kindly donated three native trees to plant within our area.”


* SO WHY ARE WE ON THE ROAD DELIVERING NATIVE TREES? *

  • New Zealand’s biodiversity is considered internationally important, yet it has one of the worst records of biodiversity loss.


  • More than 500 native species are identified as threatened with extinction, mainly because of human activities and introduced species.


  • New Zealand has lost more than 90% of its wetlands, and 80% of its native forests.




    • Positive feedback from schools acknowledges the need and responsibility as individuals, within their schools and communities. Now they’ve identified the pressing need for planting native food-bearing trees.

    “…‘Plant It Forward’ fosters the kaitiakiranga (guardianship) of our environment.”

    “...your project has totally inspired and motivated us. Now we’ll take action too.”

    The Minister’s of Education and Conservation’s acknowledgement, a letter from the Prime Minister, support from the Northland Regional Council, an Environmental Award, a Masters student studying our project, local schools visiting, support from businesses and the elderly, have all been signs of success. We have also represented New Zealand twice in the Volvo World Young Environmentalists Award, held in Sweden. Our campaign on local radio and in newspapers was successful in encouraging people to buy trees specifically to provide food for native birds. The ripple effect is spreading. ‘Plant It Forward – Te Mauri’ will bring people and trees together, and will replenish our environment with birds.

    “Tiakina nga manu, ka ora te ngahere. Kia ore te ngahere, ka ora nga manu.”

    “Look after the birds and the forest flourishes. If the forest flourishes, the birds flourish.”