In 2007, WWF-New Zealand published a report showing the positive outcomes for people when they decide to care for and improve their environment. 

It's one of many resources WWF-New Zealand provides to support community-led projects that are protecting, conserving or restoring New Zealand's natural environments. 

Called 'Not just trees in the ground', it presents qualitative analysis about the social and economic benefits of community-led conservation projects. The author, Dianne Buchan, of Corydon Consultants Ltd, looked at three projects part-funded by WWF-New Zealand's Habitat Protection Fund, and documented what the benefits have been to people’s livelihoods and to their social networks.

You can download a copy of the report: Buchan, D. 2007. Not Just Trees in the Ground:The Social and Economic Benefi ts of Community-led Conservation Projects. WWF-New Zealand, Wellington.