What we are
about
COMMUNITY-LED CONSERVATION
of AUSTRALASIAN BITTERN
in AOTEAROA
The Love Bittern Project is dedicated to community-led conservation of the Australasian Bittern and its wetland habitat.
We work tirelessly helping communities to raise awareness, conduct research and implement conservation strategies to ensure the survival of this species.
“When communities are treated as part of the solution rather than part of the problem, they are willing to take responsibility for conservation.”
-Dr. Rob Horwich, Founder of Community Conservation Inc.
Our team is passionate about making a difference and believe it takes a community to save a species.
..MORE ABOUT US
Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to save a species. The Love Bittern Project empowers and supports community-based conservation of Australasian Bittern | Matuku(kautuku)-hūrepo (Botaurus poiciloptilus).
“When communities are treated as part of the solution rather than part of the problem, they are willing to take responsibility for conservation.”
Dr. Rob Horwich, Founder of Community Conservation Inc.
In Aotearoa New Zealand Bittern are just one step from extinction, there are fewer than 1000 adult birds left in New Zealand and the population, we think, is declining... their status looks the same in Australia.
As a country we have relied too heavily on national and regional organisations to carry the load to save critically endangered species or ecosystems and whilst they continue to provide support and research they are just one part of the solution.
If we keep doing the same thing, looking in the same places (public conservation land or reserves) - we will get the same result. The Love Bittern Project is dedicated to leveraging local community knowledge, both current and historic, of the wetland habitats Bittern call home.
Using the ' Habitat for Hurepo' assessment tool we provide information to help look at wetlands with a Bittern lens and focus on features that help Bittern to thrive and not just survive.
Bittern are a large stocky brown and buff coloured heron, standing around the height of a dining room table they are a big bird (74cm tall on average) and an apex predator in a wetland. They are a flagship species for wetland ecosystems, in that if we can satisfy their needs all off the layers in the ecosystem will be intact.
Irrespective of land ownership, we are putting out the call to people from all walks of life, those that care for and/or own land to look at wetland restoration as a multi-functioning service - one that helps to reduce nutrient loads, provides flood protection and is a thriving wetland ecosystem capable of supporting a wide range of biodiversity, including Bittern.
Autonomy is important to us so we are primarily self-funded - we are also grateful for the generous donations and koha received from people, groups and organisations - each one of you and every contribution makes a real difference to HELP save BITTERN from EXTINCTION.