In the heart of the Whakatipu Basin, an ambitious project has taken root. Sararose Brown, Operations Manager at Whakatipu Reforestation Trust, talks about how the power of collaboration is helping restore native biodiversity in this special part of the world.

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Restoring Queenstown's Biodiversity: How Community and Collaboration are Making a Difference

Queenstown’s landscapes are breathtaking, but behind the scenes, dedicated groups like the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust are working tirelessly to ensure these natural spaces thrive for generations to come. With less than 10% of the region’s indigenous plant cover remaining, these restoration efforts could not be more crucial. Leading the charge is Sararose Brown, the operations manager at the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust (WRT), whose passion for native restoration is helping to bring biodiversity back to the basin.

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Bringing Native Habitats Back to Life

At the heart of the Trust’s mission is their community nursery, where young seedlings are propagated before being planted at carefully selected restoration sites throughout the Whakatipu Basin. One of their most ambitious projects to date has taken shape at Slope Hill Reserve—a local Department of Conservation site that has seen an incredible 29,000 trees planted over the past year.

“This site is a real island of biodiversity in the basin,” Sararose explains. “It’s going to have a significant impact, not only in this little valley but for the wider ecosystem as well.”

A Game-Changer for Conservation

In 2024, the Trust received crucial funding from the Love Queenstown Community Fund, which has allowed them to install irrigation at the Slope Hill site to support young plants through the hot, dry summer months.

“For some of these plants, having water on demand is the difference between surviving or not,” Sarah says. “When it comes to restoring biodiversity, irrigation is a complete game-changer.”

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Community at the Core

The Whakatipu Reforestation Trust isn’t just about planting trees—it’s about bringing people together. Strong relationships with local businesses, volunteers, and initiatives like Love Queenstown play a huge role in the Trust’s success.

“To have relationships and collaborations with the likes of Love Queenstown is just vital,” Sararose shares. “It allows us to bring local businesses and community members along with us, working toward a shared vision of making this place even better.”

With dedicated efforts like these, Queenstown’s natural beauty isn’t just being preserved—it’s being restored and strengthened for the future.

Watch the full video to see the impact firsthand!

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