New trustees for Mid Dome Trust

The Mid Dome Wilding Trees Charitable Trust is seeing a change of guard as two new trustees have recently been appointed to vacant seats.

Environment Southland councillors have approved the appointment of Richard Bowman and Glenys Dickson as trustees on the Trust, which was set up to address the spread of Pinus contorta across some of Southland’s most valuable and vulnerable high country tussock and pastoral landscapes.

Glenys is a first term Gore District councillor, chair of the Forest Hill Foundation Trust, and board member of both the Waiau Fisheries and Wildlife Enhancement Trust, and the Pacific Development Trust. She will fill the vacancy that has been left by former SIT environmental management programme leader Dr Ross Ramsay.

Richard is Environment Southland’s outgoing biosecurity manager, with 24 years under his belt with the council. He fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Sir Alan Mark.

The new trustees were appointed in consensus by the Trust’s three funding partners, Environment Southland, the Department of Conservation, and Land Information New Zealand.

Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell said the Trust plays a key role in managing the significant threat to Southland’s tussock grassland, and has provided some outstanding work over the years.

He said the council was delighted to support both nominations.

“Richard, who is just retiring from Environment Southland, has been very much involved in supporting the Trust over many years, so he will be a very valuable and welcome addition. And Glenys is well known for her interest in conservation, and has been a supporter of the Trust’s work in the past.”

Trust chairman Ali Timms said she was looking forward to working with the new trustees.

“Richard brings a huge depth of knowledge and experience to the role, due to his involvement in wilding issues over more than 20 years. This has involved a long history with the Mid Dome programme, and also advocating at a national level for improved wilding conifer management and control techniques.

“Glenys has a long and proud record of being involved in environmental projects and initiatives, and we’re fortunate that she has also accepted our invitation to join the Trust.”

ENDS

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