The Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust (PFHCCT ) has published an impressive 2030 Strategic Plan to make the region predator free by 2050, and is asking for initial public feedback by 24 January 2020.  You can access the Plan here and complete the feedback questionnaire here

PFHCCT was established in October 2017 to support and promote community conservation groups in the Hauraki Coromandel within a national Predator Free programme. Foundation research published in 2018 identified almost 60 conservation projects across the Hauraki Coromandel, involving over 600 volunteers undertaking predator control covering an area of almost 30,000 ha.

In addition to the volunteer groups there are scores of other stakeholders

Here is a snapshot of the region covered by the plan

Four focus areas were identified for PFHCCT to support, enhance and promote Hauraki Coromandel (HC) community conservation groups:

1. Grow the funding base.
2. Increase the pool of volunteers.
3. Provide practical local resources.
4. Help with monitoring.

The 2030 Strategic Plan sets out the foundation thinking for how the Trust will achieve this within a landscape scale regional conservation project from the Moehau to Te Aroha maunga – an area of almost 286,000 ha.

The plan outlines some broader perspectives and challenges including –

• not only enhance and protect our natural environment and endangered species in this biodiversity hotspot, but also enhance the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Hauraki Coromandel people?

• not only consult with tangata whenua, but build mutually respectful relationships based on Te Ao Māori and Mātauranga Māori?
• not only increase the pool of conservation volunteers, but provide skills training and job opportunities – particularly for our youth?
• not only find new sources of external funding, but foster social enterprises that will provide resilience, sustainability and employment?
• not only enhance the capacity and capability of community conservation groups, but inspire and engage people across the Hauraki Coromandel to get involved?

The Plan also outlines some potential strategic shifts that will need to be achieved

If you are involved in conservation in Thames Coromandel/Hauraki , or would like to be I would encourage you to access the plan and provide your feedback.  This is an exciting project but will only succeed with full involvement from local communities.