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The Department of Conservation and the Backcountry Trust are partnering on 30 recreational hut projects this summer—great news for lovers of New Zealand’s backcountry and those looking to volunteer outdoors, says DOC.
DOC has received $4.2m from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy to work with others to maintain highly-valued huts and tracks, over four years.
Dubbed the ‘Community Hut Programme’, this money allows DOC and BCT to work in partnership on DOC huts and tracks valued by the hunters, fishers, trampers and others who use them.
“The Community Hut Programme is critical to the Backcountry Trust and DOC being able to deliver extra value to the backcountry community,” says BCT’s national operations manager Rob Brown.
“Interested groups or individuals should contact the BCT to discuss projects they have in mind.”
Rob thanks the generosity of the many volunteers and sponsors who are also critical in supporting the work.
The Department has a huge job, says DOC director of heritage and visitors Catherine Wilson.
“The Community Hut Programme will support others to maintain huts and tracks on public conservation land through volunteer work and donated materials.
“With a third of the country to manage, including thousands of species, huts, tracks, heritage sites and marine areas, we need communities behind us.
“Many DOC experiences are in high demand from Kiwis and international visitors.
“This popularity, combined with remote locations and increasing climate change pressures, puts strain on the visitor network and creates high maintenance costs.
“We want to deliver a shared backcountry network that connects people to nature through recreation and builds a collective commitment to the backcountry for future generations.”
