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Welcome
to the New Island Conservation Trust website!
New Island is one of the finest
and most unique wildlife reserves in the Falkland Islands. Under the
protection of the New Island Conservation Trust, (formerly the New Island
South Conservation Trust), a non-profit charitable conservation organisation,
the future of this reserve is assured in perpetuity.
The New Island South nature reserve ~ how did it begin?
In 1972 the opportunity arose to give New Island
its first measure of environmental protection in nearly 200 years. The
project began when the property was purchased by Ian Strange and a partner
(the property was later divided as New Island North and New Island South,
with the latter being owned by Ian Strange).
Under the New Island South Conservation Trust, founded by Ian Strange
in 1995, the original project has continued to develop a practical approach
to conservation for the benefit of the Falkland Islands as a whole.
As a private reserve, New Island South saw the
first pioneering conservation and management efforts in the Falklands’
context, and was the first land-based wildlife tourism operation in
the Islands, offering visitors the opportunity to appreciate its exceptional
wildlife and illustrating the potential of specialist tourism as a tool
to assist wildlife conservation.
Now, after some 20 years under separate ownership and management, New
Island North has been acquired by the New Island Conservation Trust.
The island is now one complete nature reserve (you can read more about
the aquisition of the North End from Tony & Kim Chater...please
click here).
Photos
© G. Strange / I. Strange |
Above:
Rockhopper Penguins, sunrise over New
Island's settlement harbour, Black-browed Albatross & the
South End beach |
New Island before nature conservation:
Much of the island’s earlier history was
one of depredation: its seal and bird colonies were plundered by early
exploiters, the island was a base for early whalers, and its vegetation
suffered as a result of burning and grazing by sheep and cattle. New
Island is now an extremely important conservation site and many of the
projects on the reserve are linked to its past history, giving a unique
opportunity to study man’s past influence on the environment.
Today we demonstrate what changes can be brought about by protection
and careful management.
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New Island has an estimated 52 miles (84km) of coastline
embracing some 5,600 acres.
Until August 2006, New Island was run as 2 separate properties
under different management: New Island North (previously owned
by Tony Chater) and New Island South.
The New Island Conservation Trust now owns both properties, effectively
making the island one complete wildlife refuge.
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Photo
© D. Birch
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What do we do?
On the New Island reserve, all work is geared
to the conservation and study of the environment, from our scientific
projects through to controlled tourism, education and management. We
are the only purpose-designed site with established facilities for field
studies in the Falkland Islands, and we play a leading role in the Islands’
environmental protection efforts.
The New Island Conservation Trust
We believe in a direct and practical application
of nature conservation, and particular attention is given to longer
term, proactive projects which will be of value to conservation not
just in this part of the archipelago, but also to the rest of the Falklands.
The Trust’s objectives are to promote the study and appreciation
of ecology and wildlife conservation throughout the Falkland Islands,
and to assist in developing plans for the management and conservation
of its exceptional natural environment for the future.
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