A History of Conservation

In 1971 the opportunity came to give New Island its first measure of environmental protection in 200 years, when the New Island Preservation Company was formed and purchased the island. The memorandum of the company being, " to establish the island as a wildlife reserve, to encourage conservation and research, while developing specialized wildlife tourism".

At the time the project was considered revolutionary and for political, financial and management reasons the sheep farming operation initially continued, although the stock was reduced to less than half the original number. Specialized wildlife tourism, never before attempted in the Falklands, was established as a conservation "tool" to show the value of Falklands wildlife. It became a model for diversification and a viable alternative to sheep farming allowing the latter to be phased out completely.

In 1977 the company was wound up and New Island became two separate properties, New Island North and New Island South. The original project objectives and memorandum of the Preservation Company were continued by the project originator, Ian Strange. Any remaining stock was removed from New Island South with the property becoming a base for conservation research and wildlife tourism. In 1985 the neighbouring property of New Island North changed ownership and following a period of settlement follows similar objectives, although under different management.

An essential aspect of the whole project and the future of New Island South as a wildlife reserve and its conservation research, lies in its status. To ensure the continuation of the reserve and its projects in perpetuity, the originator established in 1986 a private trust. This was known as the New Island Conservation Trust. In 1988 the New Island Conservation Foundation was established and registered as a public charity in the USA. This foundation is still operated for US donors. In 1993 New Island South was given official status as a Wildlife Sanctuary under Falkland Islands Government's Sanctuaries and Reserves Ordinance 1964.

In 1995 Ian Strange made the decision to strengthen the status of the property by founding the New Island South Conservation Trust which is a charitable trust incorporated under British law and also registered in the Falkland Islands. In 1998 the New Island South reserve was transferred to the trust. The original memorandum remains in place as the objectives of the Trust and by law the property is required to continue as a wildlife reserve in perpetuity.

With the guidance of a number of selected trustees the trust operates to strict regulations laid down by the Charity Commission. This being a further guarantee to researchers who can plan long term projects with the knowledge that the New Island South reserve status will not alter.

Stewardship

For those private land owners who may wish to protect for example, an offshore tussock island or an environmentally sensitive site, the New Island South Conservation Trust can offer assistance in a number of ways. Surveys, assessments and environmental impact studies can be carried out. The Trust's status as a registered charitable conservation body can assist land owners by offering legal protection to land which they may wish to see made a reserve and protected in perpetuity. As an independent organisation with many years of local knowledge and experience it is able adjust to the individual conservation requirements of landowners.

Reserves currently preserved by the Trust are New Island South and three small islets known as Seal Rocks. The origins of the Trust were also responsible for creating a number of present day reserves such as Coffin Island, Beef Island, Ship Island, Cliff Knob Island, North and Saddle Islands. As part of the New Island Preservation Companies property they were transferred for safe keeping to the Royal Society for Nature Conservation. On the formation of a charitable trust by the New Island Project, these islands were to be transferred back to what is now the New Island South Conservation Trust. Management problems for the Royal Society plus the untimely death of their founder and Chairman Christopher Cadbury, led to the islands having to be prematurely transferred back. With the New Island South Trust still under legal formation it was unable to accept their return. Today, they remain reserves but are held by Falklands Conservation, which, like the New Island South Conservation Trust is a charitable trust.