Forest & Bird elects new president

27 June 2009

Forest & Bird elects new president

Conservation organization Forest & Bird has elected Barry Wards as its new national president.

At its AGM in Wellington this weekend Forest & Bird also elected Craig Potton as vice-president.

Barry Wards has been chairman of Forest & Bird’s Upper Hutt branch for 16 years, has served on its national executive since 2004 and has been vice-president since 2007.

As a member of Forest & Bird for more than two decades, he has been involved in numerous environmental restoration projects in Upper Hutt, including restoration of Bartons and Domain Bush, Moehau Park and Hulls Creek and volunteer possum control at six sites.

Outside Forest & Bird he works as senior biosecurity advisor for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Dr Wards says the most important conservation issues facing New Zealand are environmental sustainability, including climate change, protection of our biodiversity, both on land and in New Zealand’s marine area.

He says Forest & Bird has an important leadership role as the country’s only national, independent, New Zealand-based conservation organization.

“We are lucky in New Zealand to be surrounded by such a rich natural heritage, but we need to look after this inheritance much better than we do now.  I see Forest & Bird’s role in providing a voice for nature as hugely important in achieving a truly sustainable future.”

Craig Potton has been chairman of Forest & Bird’s Nelson branch for more than a decade and has served on its executive since 2004.  He first joined Forest & Bird as a schoolboy and over the last three decades has been involved in many of New Zealand’s most prominent national conservation campaigns.  Mr Potton is also a noted landscape and wildlife photographer and founder of Craig Potton Publishing.

Dr Wards thanked former President Peter Maddison, who did not stand for re-election, but will remain on Forest & Bird’s Executive as immediate past president.

Forest & Bird General Manager Mike Britton said Dr Maddison had made an outstanding contribution to Forest & Bird during his four years as president.  Dr Maddison was honoured at the AGM by being made a Distinguished Life Member of Forest & Bird.

Graham Bellamy was also re-elected as treasurer, and Anne Fenn, Mark Fort, Alan Hemmings, Joan Leckie, Janet Ledingham, Jon Wenham and Andrew Cutler were elected as Executive members.

ends

© Scoop Media