Fun key for new eco tourism venture

Is it a tourism venture? Is it a conservation education venture? Tom Lynch's new eco-tours business aims to be both.

Foris started operating in February and is aimed at combining some of the region's natural environment with Lynch's knowledge of the plants and animals that inhabit it and with an enjoyable experience that will make people think more about conservation.

"The New Zealand landscap and biodiversity is unique in the world, but it's a bit subtle and needs a little interpretation for people to understand quite how precious it really is.

The guided walks in the Whirinaki Forest and rafting trips on the Rangitaiki River are being aimed at tourists and education groups, using Lynch's experience as a rafting guide, teacher and conservation educationalist to get people out enjoying the environment, but with an ecological focus.

"It is about making these places more accessible to more people. It's not adventure tourism, as such, its about making a more meaningful experience."

He ran Zealandia's education programme at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary for five years, working with more than 30,000 students, and was also a teacher at Rotorua Boys' High School. This experience is helping him to work with teachers to construct trips that fit with school curricula and can help students achieve NCEA standards while having a good time and learning about their country.

"They will have a good time, but we also underpin that with valuable learning experiences - it's more than just a day out."

His overarching goal is to encourage people to care more about the region's natural resources by packaging them in outdoor activities and hands-on experiences.

"Before you can care about the environment, you have to enjoy it. I don't want it to be a challenge or difficult for people. The outdoors should be fun."

Foris also offers visitors and locals the chance to take part in community restoration projects with a not-for-profit initiative to take people out once a month between June and September to remove weeds and plant new flora to create wildlife habitats and improve water quality.