Project Crimson is a conservation initiative to promote the protection of the pohutukawa and the rata

Rata

Rata may refer to:* Plants of the genus Metrosideros from New Zealand, including** Metrosideros robusta ** Metrosideros bartlettii ** Metrosideros carminea...

 which are under threat due to browsing by the introduced Common Brushtail Possum

Common Brushtail Possum

The Common Brushtail Possum is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, it is native to Australia, and the largest of the possums.Like most possums, the Common Brushtail is nocturnal...

. The vision of the project is to "enable pohutukawa and rata to flourish again in their natural habitat as icons in the hearts and minds of all New Zealanders."

History

Project Crimson was formed as a community trust in 1990 by New Zealand Forest Products

New Zealand Forest Products

New Zealand Forest Products was New Zealand's largest industrial company from its creation in 1936 until the privatisation of state-owned Telecom New Zealand in 1990...

 and the Department of Conservation. It is currently sponsored by Meridian Energy

Meridian Energy

Meridian Energy Limited is a New Zealand state-owned electricity generator and retailer. The company generates the largest proportion of New Zealand's electricity, generating 32 percent of the country's electricity in the year ending 31 December 2009, and is the fourth-equal largest retailer, with...

.

External links

• Project Crimson
• Project Crimson at the Department of Conservation