ECO FUR

New Zealand's Brushtail Possum provides the world's only Eco Fur. By purchasing a product made from New Zealand Possum you are actually helping to protect New Zealand's native bush and wild life.

Environmental groups such as The Royal Forest & Bird Society, The Ecologic Foundation and Greenpeace New Zealand advocate the Brushtail Possum fur trade. It is seen as an effective way to reduce numbers of the pest and help save New Zealand's forests.

QUOTES FROM ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES

In 1997 Chris Laidlaw, the former Executive Director of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature – New Zealand, supported an initiative to significantly improve New Zealand's special environment;

"Recent research carried out for WWF-NZ by the University of Auckland suggest that some North Island forests and the unique wildlife that depends on them are being severely affected by browsing possums." This initiative, promoted by leading New Zealand businessman and environmentalist Sir Peter Elworthy, will help to keep New Zealand's forests clean and green." That sentiment is shared by other conservation organizations in New Zealand.

The Director-General of the Department of Conservation issued to following statement in 1997 regarding the brushtail possum in New Zealand:

".the brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula is not a species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is not protected in any way under New Zealand law. This animal was introduced to New Zealand from Australia last century in an effort to establish a fur trade. They are universally viewed as a pest throughout New Zealand, have spread to and now inhabit all areas of native forest, causing extensive damage to a wide variety of forest plants and many species of native wildlife. Any commercial exploitation of this animal within New Zealand is viewed as contributing towards their eradication and accordingly, all exports of carcasses, skins or other by-products of Brushtail Possum originating from this country is in full accordance with the laws of New Zealand."

Guy Salmon, Chief Executive of the Maruia Society, stated in 1997 that;

"the buildup of possum numbers to high levels is currently damaging both the health and the biodiversity of New Zealand's natural forests. The health of the forests deteriorates, as measured in ongoing losses of biomass of about 4% on average, per decade.

My Society is lending its support to a number of initiatives that offer the hope of reducing the numbers of possums in our forests on a sustainable basis. One of these is the commercialization of possum products. By building up a larger market for possum products the commercial incentive for control of possum populations can be increased, and the damage to the forests can be decreased. In these ways, purchasers of possum products are contributing toward environmental improvement in the country of origin, New Zealand."

For further information please visit our website www.nzfur.com