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Project Crimson is a conservation initiative to promote the protection of the
pōhutukawa
''Metrosideros excelsa'', commonly known as pōhutukawa ( mi, pōhutukawa), New Zealand Christmas tree, New Zealand Christmas bush, and iron tree, is a coastal evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that produces a brilliant display o ...
and the
rātā which are under threat due to browsing by the introduced
common brushtail possum
The common brushtail possum (''Trichosurus vulpecula'', from the Greek for "furry tailed" and the Latin for "little fox", previously in the genus ''Phalangista'') is a nocturnal, semi arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, native to A ...
. The vision of the project is to "enable pōhutukawa and rātā to flourish again in their natural habitat as icons in the hearts and minds of all New Zealanders."
History
The initiative for Project Crimson grew out of a Forest Research Institute investigation (1989) into the health of pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa). Scientists discovered that more than 90% of coastal pōhutukawa stands had been eliminated. The tree had entirely disappeared in many areas along the west coast of Northland.
Disturbed by these findings, staff from Northland
Department of Conservation
An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment, ...
and
New Zealand Forest Products
New Zealand Forest Products (NZFP) was New Zealand's largest industrial company from its creation (following the consolidation of the New Zealand timbermilling sector) in 1936 until the privatisation of state-owned Telecom New Zealand in 1990. ...
now Carter Holt Harvey) came up with the idea of creating a community-based project to help pōhutukawa. In 1990 the Project Crimson Trust came to life.
Today Project Crimson is a leading environmental organisation, with support from sponsors and the help of thousands of New Zealanders around the country. These people believe that pōhutukawa, rātā, and many other native trees in New Zealand, are an essential part of who New Zealanders are.
Project Crimson has made impressive progress re-establishing pōhutukawa and rātā nationwide by planting over 300,000 trees, coordinating and supporting a wide range of maintenance activities, scientific research, possum control programmes and public education. From 2011–2015, Project Crimson co-sponsored
Living Legends, a reforestation program.
Project Crimson also administers Trees That Count, an environmental movement that aims to both count the number of native trees planted in New Zealand and link funders, businesses and individuals with planting and community groups to plant millions more native trees.
See also
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Conservation in New Zealand
Conservation in New Zealand has a history associated with both Māori and Europeans. Both groups of people caused a loss of species and both altered their behaviour to a degree after realising their effect on indigenous flora and fauna.
Protect ...
*
Common brushtail possum in New Zealand
The common brushtail possum (''Trichosurus vulpecula'') was introduced from Australia to New Zealand, where it has become a major agricultural and conservation pest. (In Māori it is called paihamu, a transliteration of "possum".)
Introducti ...
References
External links
Project CrimsonProject Crimson
at the Department of Conservation
{{Graeme Hart
Conservation projects in New Zealand
1990 in New Zealand
1990 in the environment