Conference Delegates in NZ Go Bushwalking But Leave No Footprints….
As part of a newly developed Carbon Neutral Delegate Package conference delegates at Kourawhero Country Lodge take part in a guided bushwalk which takes them through dense indigenous forest to a beautiful 60 feet high waterfall. This authentic bush experience allows both local and overseas delegates to get a real feel for the local environment first hand.
Delegates then get their hands dirty by helping to clear invasive weeds from the bush margins and planting a range of native trees and seedlings as part of the Kourawhero Bush Regeneration Programme.
Lodge Owner Michael Shah says “We have found that conference delegates are acutely aware of the impact their events can have and are looking for ways to reduce both the immediate and longer term effects of their meetings. We are committed to a sustainable future and really enjoy the opportunity to get people directly involved on the land with some of the things we are doingâ€.
The Owners and staff at Kourawhero have already planted over 15, 000 native trees during that last 4 years and have covenanted almost 50% of their land holding, around 50 acres. It is estimated that the Kourawhero Estate absorbs over 200 tonnes of carbon per year. This allows Kourawhero to offset each delegate’s carbon footprint against the Estate’s own carbon absorption.
Shah says “This is really the Kyoto Protocol in miniature and shows what can be achieved on a local level. At Kourawhero we see sustainability as being about preserving, protecting and improving what we have, for our children and grandchildren, and as a 100% New Zealand owned and operated family business this is part of what we do every dayâ€
Kourawhero Country Lodge opened in September 2007 and is a one hour drive north of Auckland. Set in a private, bush clad estate, Kourawhero Country Lodge is a peaceful and luxurious lodge sitting at the top of a valley overlooking picturesque farmland with expansive views of the Coromandel, Kawau Island, Little Barrier Island and the other islands of the Hauraki Gulf.
by the Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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