Crowdfunding Reforestation: Uniting a Community to Buy Land (with Matthew MacDonald)

Written By Callum Armstrong

(Note: you can also listen to this episode on YouTube or Spotify)

What if a small community on New Zealand's Banks Peninsula could come together to purchase and restore a piece of land to create a lasting conservation legacy for future generations? 

That’s exactly what the team at Le Bons Bay Conservation Trust are doing, and they’re nearly there – with 80% of their fundraising goal already achieved! 

Join our korero with Matthew MacDonald as we explore how they launched their crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to buy and restore land, and how their work ties into a larger movement of community-driven conservation on Banks Peninsula.

Whether you’re passionate about conservation or thinking of starting your own crowdfunding campaign, this episode is full of insights and practical tips on how to bring big conservation ideas to life, even when faced with challenges.

Here are some of the things we discuss in this episode:

  • The vision behind Le Bons Bay Conservation Trust and their land restoration plan 

  • The importance of placing covenants on land for long-term protection

  • The role of community in crowdfunding and how local people are driving conservation change on Banks Peninsula

  • Key lessons from running a successful crowdfunding campaign

  • How Le Bons Bay’s efforts fit into a broader conservation network on Banks Peninsula

👩About Matthew

Matthew’s association with Le Bons Bay began 25 years ago when he met his wife, Jane, who has an even longer association with Le Bons. His desire to leave a lasting legacy has driven him to help begin this trust and the process of bringing this piece of land back to its former natural state. 

“I hope that this Trust is the foundation of future work for the bay to make it an even better place for my children and anyone else who wants to enjoy this beautiful place.” - Matthew MacDonald

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🎙️About the podcast:

The People Helping Nature podcast is brought to you by Conservation Amplified, a registered New Zealand charity that’s on a mission to make biodiversity conservation mainstream.

We do this by bringing a megaphone to the world of conservation by featuring people from all walks of life who are doing interesting and important things to help nature thrive. We aim to make it easy for everyone to learn, understand, take action, and feel like they’re a part of the solution.

Find out more about Conservation Amplified at www.conservationamplified.org.

🔗Connect with us:

Callum Armstrong
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