The Bay of Plenty is leading the way for Conservation Week 2019, with 26 events registered for people of all ages to get involved and care for nature.

This year the Department of Conservation is celebrating 50 years of Conservation Week, from September 14 to 22.

'You and your family can make a difference by joining in to celebrate, educate, participate and enjoy our unique nature,” says DOC.

DOC is impressed by the high number of conservation activities the community is leading. There is an opportunity for everyone to help reverse the loss of biodiversity, restore habitat, and care for oceans and waterways.

'Conservation Week activities make it easy for the public to learn about what's in their backyard and every learning level is catered for,” says DOC community ranger Nataalia Lunson.

Just some of the events include family friendly guided walks with Bay Conservation Alliance, Western Bay Wildlife Trust, DOC and Te Puke Forest and Bird.

Conservation dogs Sassy and Maia, who sniff out animal pests like rats, will be visiting classrooms at Tauranga Intermediate and Pillians Point School.

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is putting on a sustainable market raising awareness of sustainable materials and decreasing waste.

There is also a chance for teachers to see what resources are available to help them deliver conservation in the classroom.

For the more hands on folk there are events planned to help improve tracks, planting trees and making sandcastles at Envirohub's Sustainable Blue Backyard.

'We can't take our beautiful beaches and forests for granted. Our little blue penguins, petrels, kokako, kiwi, bittern, kauri and even the New Zealand myrtle tree, the pohutakawa are just a few local species that need our help,” says Nataalia.

To find an event near you check out: https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/events/conservation-week/events/