Southern Environmental Trust

Abstract

In 1990, the then World President of Rotary International, Paulo V.C. Costa of Brazil, made an urgent call to Rotarians to “take up” global environmental action, and inaugurated Rotary’s “Preserve Planet Earth” Programme.  Four areas of concern were focused on in the seminars at the first international conference – air, flora, fauna and water.  The Southern Environmental Trust was formed in 1995 by the Rotary Club of Christchurch South on behalf of Rotary District 9970 to raise awareness within the community on environmental issues by holding annual public seminars.  This followed four lectures organised by the Rotary Club of Christchurch South.