Kiwis love falcons: A case-study of successful community conservation

Background/Question/Methods

Community-run conservation projects are becoming more prevalent and important in the preservation of key habitats and threatened species. However, for scientists and managers, bridging the gap to effectively recruit local people, work with media, and collaborate with schools and community groups can be a challenge.

Results/Conclusions

I will present a case-study from Marlborough, New Zealand, where a charity run by local volunteers was able to reverse the negative perceptions of a conservation project in their region that reintroduced threatened New Zealand falcons into vineyards. Local media coverage and industry buy-in will be used to show a timeline of the evolution of the community's acceptance of this predator reintroduction project. As with any conservation project, mistakes were made, but key factors contributed to the project's success, including a strong science role.