Latest news with #KelvinLloyd
Otago Daily Times
08-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Award acknowledges conservation work
The work of Dunedin ecologist, botanist, science educator and farmer Kelvin Lloyd has been recognised. Dr Lloyd received an Old Blue Award at the Forest & Bird annual meeting recently. Dr Lloyd said the award was appreciated and followed a long history of ecology and conservation work in his professional and personal life. Dr Lloyd and his wife Beatrice Lee and their two teenage sons run sheep and beef on their 88ha farm near Waitati. About 300 ewes and up to a dozen cattle were taken through winter and fed baleage. More cattle were purchased in spring. An aim on the farm was to sell 200 prime lambs each year, he said. The 88ha farm includes 45ha pasture, 30ha native bush and 11ha of native regeneration and gorse in the Emissions Trading Scheme and a small amount of forestry. He and his family live on a 6ha lifestyle block in Waitati, where he restored a wetland, filling it with harakeke flax and fencing it off. Livestock was shifted between the farm and lifestyle block. Ewe hoggets were currently on the lifestyle block. Dr Lloyd said the clients he had worked for included non-governmental organisations, such as Forest & Bird and farmers and other developers. "Credibility is the rock of my professional work. I strive to get better outcomes for biodiversity in all my work." Dr Lloyd said his conservation work started with trips to the Catlins with botanist Sir Alan Mark to plant trees and being part of the Dunedin branch's project to tackle wilding pines across Otago. A keen tramper, he was also a member of the national executive of Federated Mountain Clubs for five years and a member the of Otago Natural History Trust for 15 years during the period the trust's Orokonui Ecosanctuary proposal was developed and became a reality. Forest & Bird Canterbury and West Coast regional conservation manager Nicky Snoyink said Dr Lloyd was a former Dunedin branch chairman of Forest & Bird and had been a vital expert witness for the conservation organisation in the Environment Court. Dr Lloyd had also given up large amounts of time volunteering for other conservation-related organisations. "For several decades, Dr Lloyd has played an immense role in New Zealand conservation. "Kelvin's expertise and knowledge of New Zealand's native botany, especially rare species, is a major asset to the country." Beginning work with Wildland Consultants in 2004, he quickly became a valuable source of expert evidence. Among the successful outcomes he was involved with was prioritising wilding conifer control sites for the Ministry of Primary Industries, which led to $16 million being allocated for wilding pine control. His expert evidence also contributed towards improving protection for wetlands on the West Coast. Dr Lloyd's knowledge of wetlands and botany had been very valuable to Forest & Bird in the Environment Court and other forums. His evidence was pivotal in the Environment Court's decision to turn down the proposal for a mine at Te Kuha on the West Coast. He also provided evidence against the land swap for the Ruataniwha Dam in Hawke's Bay and Forest & Bird eventually won its case in the Supreme Court. Dr Lloyd had always been generous in sharing his knowledge and treated others with kindness and respect, Ms Snoyink said. His experience, enthusiasm, reliability and communication skills made him a standout among botanists in New Zealand, she said. "As a science communicator, Kelvin has mastered the art of taking complex scientific information and making it accessible to everyone." Other southerners to be given an Old Blue Award in the latest round were Mo Turnbull, of Hāwea, for his outstanding contribution to Forest & Bird's Central Otago Lakes branch and to conservation in the region, and Jane and Jim Young, of South Otago, for their outstanding service to Forest & Bird and to conservation in their region.
Scoop
28-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Forest & Bird Announces Top Awards For 2025
Forest & Bird has announced the recipients of the organisation's annual honours at their AGM today. These include: Old Blue Award | Dr Kelvin Lloyd (Ōtepoti, Dunedin) Old Blue Award | Mo Turnbull (Hāwea, Central Otago) Old Blue Award | Jane and Jim Young (South Otago) Te Kaiārahi Rangatahi o te Taiao Youth Award | Jessica Lamb (Ōtautahi, Christchurch) Branch Award | Upper Coromandel (Waikato) Tī Kōuka Awards David Cornick (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, Lower Hutt) John Groombridge (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, Lower Hutt) Christine Major (North Shore, Tāmaki Makaurau) Paul Pyper (North Shore, Tāmaki Makaurau) Peter Smith (Hakatere, Ashburton) Eric van Essen (Waitākere, Tāmaki Makaurau) Old Blue Award | Dr Kelvin Lloyd (Ōtepoti, Dunedin) For his passion and expertise as an ecologist, botanist and science educator. Kelvin has been a vital expert witness for Forest & Bird and other conservation groups in the Environment Court and is a former Dunedin branch chair. Kelvin's professional work has ensured better conservation outcomes, and he has also volunteered for many conservation causes. Old Blue Award | Mo Turnbull (Hāwea, Central Otago) For his outstanding contribution to Forest & Bird's Central Otago Lakes Branch and to conservation in the region. Over the last 12 years Mo has become a key branch member and has fostered several projects and fundraising. He has spearheaded and expanded the Makarora predator control programme since 2012 and was an influential member of the Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust. Old Blue Award | Jane and Jim Young (South Otago) For their outstanding service to Forest & Bird and to conservation in their region. Jane and Jim have been key members of the South Otago branch for more than a decade and a half as committee members, educators and advocates, as well as working on branch projects and running the main branch nursery. Te Kaiārahi Rangatahi o te Taiao Youth Award | Jessica Lamb (Ōtautahi, Christchurch) For her dedication and leadership in Forest & Bird Youth. Jessica co-founded the Rotorua Youth Hub in 2019, became a Youth Leader and Coordinator of the Ōtautahi Christchurch Hub in 2022 and national Youth Director in 2024. She organised several national youth events, formed partnerships with other youth-oriented environmental groups, and inspired and mentored other young conservationists. She has been involved in many hands-on conservation and sustainability projects. Branch Award | Upper Coromandel (Waikato) For its outstanding work in protecting, enhancing and advocating for nature. Upper Coromandel runs several environmental restoration projects and collaborates with iwi on landscape scale projects. The branch works with other local environmental groups, and lobbies councils and politicians to promote conservation and oppose inappropriate developments. It advocates for nature through meetings, local media and protests and is a powerful voice for nature. Tī Kōuka Awards David Cornick (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, Lower Hutt) For his exceptional service to the Lower Hutt branch and to conservation in the region. David is the longest service member of the branch committee, since being elected in 1991. He has been a regular volunteer at Forest & Bird and other conservation projects across the region, including the Wellington and Wainuiomata native plant nurseries, Mātiu Somes and Mana islands and Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve. John Groombridge (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, Lower Hutt) For his exceptional service to the Lower Hutt branch and to conservation in the region for almost 30 years. He has served as branch treasurer for 25 years and has been very active as a volunteer in the branch's projects. He first joined a planting trip to Mātiu Somes Island in 1996 and coordinates working bees to the branch's nursery there, as well as regularly volunteering on other branch projects. Christine Major (North Shore, Tāmaki Makaurau) For her exceptional service to Forest & Bird and North Shore branch's Tuff Crater restoration project. Christine has led the predator control programme at the Auckland project since 2010. The restoration project requires a sustained predator control effort and Christine has been central to its success. She created and trained a team of volunteers, carries out regular monitoring and reporting, and ensures the supply of equipment and baits. Paul Pyper (North Shore, Tāmaki Makaurau) For his exceptional service to Forest & Bird and North Shore's Tuff Crater restoration project. Paul has been leading the Thursday working bees at the Auckland project since 2016, a total of at least 280 events. This has involved training new volunteers, and liaising with the council, community and neighbouring landowners. He has maintained and organised materials and equipment and assisted with planting organisation and events. Peter Smith (Hakatere, Ashburton) For his exceptional service to Forest and Bird's Ashburton Branch and to conservation in the local area. Peter has been an able treasurer for almost 30 years and has supported the committee and branch in their conservation projects, particularly wilding conifer control and health and safety. He also played a key role in the establishment of the Ashburton Community Conservation Trust, which manages the Harris Scientific Reserve. Eric van Essen (Waitākere, Tāmaki Makarau) For his exceptional service to the Waitākere branch and to conservation in his region for more than three decades. Eric has volunteered at Forest & Bird's Colin Kerr-Taylor Memorial Reserve in Waimauku, where he is still honorary ranger and has developed a predator control halo project with neighbouring landowners. He has also worked at the Matuku Reserve and used his photography skills to record the natural treasures of the region.
