New Zealand completes 14-year ecological restoration of Abel Tasman National Park

…for Project Janszoon, a conservation partnership launched in 2012 with the Department of Conservation (DOC), mana whenua, the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust and local communities. Project Janszoon founder Devon said, “ It was the first time that philanthropy at scale had really injected funding into one of these projects. What was different was we were able to look at the national park as a whole, whereas DOC had always focused on the pressure points. ” According to Project Janszoon, more than $21 million was invested in the restoration work over 14 years. PC: Project Janszoon Abel Tasman’s restoration went beyond removing pests and invasive plants Much of the…

…also been recorded. For people who knew the park before the restoration programme, the change is particularly noticeable in the sounds of the bush. Ropata Taylor, chair of the Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust, described, “ You were struck by how quiet and silent the bush was. Now in 2026, it is like a different place. The diversity of plants, the sounds of the manu. It has gone from this kind of quite sterile state to this vibrant living state. ” The project reached beyond the forest Project Janszoon's work was not confined to ecological management. More than 10,000 students took part in its youth ambassador and education programmes, giving younger generations…

…programmes, giving younger generations direct experience of the park and its restoration work. That educational element became part of a broader change in how the Abel Tasman was cared for. DOC's Martin Rodd said, “ The work on the ground, the biodiversity achievements, have been amazing. But the ownership of it, to me that was the magic. We need to keep building on that. ” The park's restoration therefore involved people as well as habitats. Volunteers continued weed control, communities participated in conservation activity, and iwi and other partners became part of the longer-term…