The Puketi Forest Trust

Founded in October of 2003, the Puketi Forest Trust's mission is to restore Puketi Kauri Forest to a complete living forest essential to the spiritual, cultural, historical, economic and social well-being of communities and to maintain it for future generations in ways which are compatible with conservation values.

The Trust raises money from donations, sale of merchandise, sponsorship and grants. This money is used to remove introduced pests from a 5,500 hectare management area on the south-west side of the forest. The effects of pest control on populations of both pests and native wildlife are monitored.

Once pest control is fully established, native birds and other wildlife that are presently extinct in the forest will be reintroduced. Administration, monitoring and much of the work in setting up and running the project are carried out on an unpaid basis by trustees and volunteers. Contractors are paid to do most of the pest control work.

For more information on this project please visit the Puketi Forest Trust website.