Community-run conservation projects are becoming more prevalent and important in the preservation of key
habitats and threatened species. However, for scientists and managers, bridging the gap to effectively recruit local
people, work with media, and collaborate with schools and community groups can be a challenge. I will present a case-study from Marlborough, New Zealand, where a charity run by local volunteers was able to
reverse the negative perceptions of a conservation project that reintroduced threatened New
Zealand falcons into vineyards in their region. Local media coverage and industry buy-in will be used to show a timeline of the evolution of the community's acceptance of this predator reintroduction project. As with any conservation
project, mistakes were made, but key factors contributed to the project's success, including a strong science role.