The Fiordland Conservation Trust is a community-driven initiative supporting a wide range of conservation projects in Fiordland and Southland. It has been established to provide independent funding and resources to further protect the natural treasures (taonga) of southern New Zealand.
To date a number of projects have been funded, with many more ongoing and numerous proposals in the pipeline.
Kids Restore NZ (part of the Air New Zealand Environment Trust) have formed a significant partnership with the trust. ‘Kids Restore The Kepler’ is a major conservation project which concentrates on helping young people develop leadership through involvement with environmental issues.
Southern Discoveries is working in partnership with the FCT to support the Sinbad Sanctuary Project, near Mitre Peak in Milford Sound, on an ongoing basis.
Thanks to donations made to the Conservation trust so far, 30 kakaruai/South Island robins have been transferred to Secretary Island, 39 endangered tieke/saddleback are settling into a new home on Te Kakahu o Tamatea/Chalky Island, and an ambitious number of old traps have been replaced as part of the Pomona Island Charitable Trust project.
The Trust is also working with Chalky Digits clothing company, Ecotours, Fiordland Cinema, Fiordland Ecology Holidays and Peregrine Wines, to name just a few.