The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Incorporated [Forest & Bird] has been at the forefront of conservation and preservation of fauna, flora and marine life in New Zealand since 1923. Forest & Bird has been a member of the World Conservation Union [IUCN] since 1949 and has a statutory position on the National Conservation Authority, which is the oversight body for New Zealand's national parks, reserves and conservation land systems. The Society's mission is to preserve and protect the native plants and animals and natural features of New Zealand. It's aim is "connecting people with nature" as by experiencing our natural habitats people will appreciate the unique natural resources of New Zealand and want to assist in preserving them. Forest & Bird is active on a wide range of conservation and environmental issues. These include the protection of unique native plant and animal species as well as ecosystems. Forest & Bird is also actively engaged in energy and resource conservation, sustainable fisheries and sustainable land management issues. Forest & Bird is not funded by the government. It carries out its conservation work through the generosity of the public through grants, donations, membership, and bequests. There are 50 branches of Forest & Bird present in all regions of New Zealand and they are financially independent of the national body having their own accounts. The Waitakere branch of Forest & Bird is based to the west of Auckland City and has interests in preserving and protecting those natural features within its area which includes coastal, forest, wetland, and urban areas.