Conservation efforts a big winner

HELPING HAND: Local farmer Jane Donald at Big Haywards Lagoon with regenerating Kahikatea behind at right.

A Wairarapa farming family have been named the Wetland Champions of New Zealand for their conservation efforts.

The Donald family have farmed alongside Lake Wairarapa for more than 150 years and are being held up as role models for wetland restoration in NZ.

"This farm ticked just about all the boxes for environmental best practice," said the judges of the National Wetland Trust (NWT) and Department of Conservation competition.

Regional councils around the country nominated wetland-friendly farmers for the award.

Greater Wellington Regional Council, who nominated Jane Donald and her daughter Paula, praised their ability to marry their farming and conservation of their wetlands.

"Canny initiative and perseverance describe Jane and Paula's approach to wetland development and protection.

"The farm and integrated wetlands provide a show case for not just protecting biodiversity and water quality but enhancing it in a most practical and innovative way by clever land managers using agricultural tools."

Ms Donald said she knew they had been nominated for the title but was surprised to be named the champions.

"It's a privilege, a real privilege," she said.

Farming and wetland management spans several generations in the Donald family.

They've been farming and working to protect and restore more than 300ha of nationally significant wetlands throughout generations.

Ms Donald said she started farming in the 1970s and back then it wasn't typical for women to become farmers.

Her father and brother didn't think anything of her choice but her mother did.

"She wanted me to be nurse. I always wanted to be a farmer, I've always loved nature," she said.

Ms Donald's three children are also all farmers and grew up around the wetlands.

Judge and NWT founder Gordon Stephenson said there was a heap of initiatives and best practices at their farm, in farming and conservation.

"The Donald family are excellent role models for farmers.

"I'm delighted to see that they share what they've learnt on their farm with the wider community."

Ms Donald has pioneered aerial application of herbicide to control plant species such as willow and alder which creep into the wetland her father had protected.

"If left to their own devices, the willow would keep encroaching," she said.

Spraying reduces the spread of it allowing native plants, native birds and other native wildlife to thrive.

It can be challenging work, in particular managing the willows, says Ms Donald.

"It's an ongoing thing to get rid of the willows."

Thanks to their hard work, last year was the first time Royal Spoonbills were recorded nesting in Wairarapa.

The wetlands are now also home to a diverse array of native fish and the rare Australian bittern.

The family also graze their cattle and sheep by the lake to keep the weeds down.

"If you don't graze it the willows and the alders take over," said Ms Donald.

The competition was held to celebrate World Wetlands Day 2014 last Sunday.