Yesterday some of the country’s top conservationists gathered at the Otago Museum to discuss the history of forest conservation efforts and the problems we are facing today.
The Save Manapouri campaign worked to prevent the raising of the levels of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau in Fiordland as part of the construction of the Manapouri Power Station.
Raising the lakes would have submerged the nearby forests.
The 1970 petition reached almost 265,000 signatures, which was almost 10% of the national population at the time.
That victory was celebrated at the Fight for the Forests public talk at the Otago Museum’s Hutton Theatre yesterday, with discussion from zoologist and radio producer Alison Ballance, author Paul Bensemann and botanist Dr Peter Johnson.
Dr Johnson spoke about the history of conservation efforts in New Zealand and brought along some native tree clippings to show the audience.
Dunedin had a ‘‘wonderful’’ set of woods with the Woodhaugh Gardens and the Town Belt, he said.
The talk was held as part of the Wild Dunedin Spring Edition festival.
Wild Dunedin head of social media Charlie Buchan said a variety of different activities were available over the weekend such as treasure hunting on Quarantine Island and ferry rides across the harbour.
