# Volunteers planted 280,000 trees to revive New Zealand island

2026-08-13T06:50:47+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

Off the coast of Auckland, Tiritiri Matangi Island was a degraded farmland with only 4% of its original forest cover by the 1970s. Between 1984 and 1994, an estimated 280,000 native trees were planted by about 10,000 volunteers, known as the "spade brigade." The Times of India reports that the effort, one of New Zealand's largest community-led conservation projects, increased forest cover to over 60% within a decade. After planting, predators like rats were eradicated and native birds including takahē, kōkako and little spotted kiwi were reintroduced. The island now serves as a sanctuary and living classroom, with thriving bird populations used for translocations to other sites.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/how-280000-volunteer-planted-trees-transformed-new-zealands-tiritiri-matangi-from-a-degraded-island-into-a-conservation-sanctuary/articleshow/133161170.cms>

Tags: conservation, forest restoration, native birds, New Zealand, Tiritiri Matangi, volunteer planting
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