Friday 5 October 2018 11:03am
The Chairperson of Predator Free 2050 Limited Jane Taylor speaks at the launch of Predator Free Dunedin at Otago Museum on Wednesday.
University of Otago zoologists are excited by this week’s launch of Predator Free Dunedin, a project bringing 20 agencies, environmental trusts, research institutions and mana whenua groups together to remove predators from over 31,000 hectares around Dunedin.
The University last year joined the other organisations in signing a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on a Predator Free Dunedin management plan.
"Within the University’s Department of Zoology, for example, are research staff and students who are currently involved in research to inform predator control ..."
The project now has a budget of $15 million over five years, including $4.33 million from Predator Free 2050 Limited announced yesterday.
Otago zoologists Professor Phil Seddon and Associate Professor Yolanda van Heezik, who attended Wednesday’s launch at Otago Museum, say the University, along with Manaaki Whenua/Landcare Research, will provide research support around predator-control efforts.
“Within the University’s Department of Zoology, for example, are research staff and students who are currently involved in research to inform predator control – from the point of view of predator diversity, behaviour, impacts, and effective management, but also relating to the social dimensions of community involvement.”
Over five years, Predator Free Dunedin aims to eradicate possums from the 9,000ha Otago Peninsula and to suppress rats, possums, weasels, ferrets and stoats across 12,500ha of land surrounding Orokonui Ecosanctuary, between Aramoana, Waitati and North East Valley. Predator Free Dunedin will build upon the great work undertaken by the Predator Free Peninsula and Halo Predator Free Project to connect these areas with a new Urban Linkage project. Dunedinites will collaboratively work to implement predator control operations in their backyards and in local reserves within the Urban Linkage area.
Volunteers will be supported by Predator Free Dunedin to form suburban backyard trapping groups to establish and maintain community trapping programmes through the provision of tools, best practice and resources.
"Dunedin is already considered the Wildlife Capital of New Zealand, but we can make it so much better by eliminating possums, rats and stoats from the urban area."
Professor Seddon says the initiative should have a significant impact.
“Evidence from Wellington indicates that enhanced predator control in the urban area will result in increased abundance and diversity of native birds and other native species, such as lizards. This initiative in Dunedin will also aid building community cohesion and raise awareness of the need to protect our natural heritage.
“Dunedin is already considered the Wildlife Capital of New Zealand, but we can make it so much better by eliminating possums, rats and stoats from the urban area.”
The 20 organisations that have joined together to form the Predator Free Dunedin Charitable Trust are: Kāti Huirapa Runanga ki Puketeraki Incorporated, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council, OSPRI New Zealand Limited, Department of Conservation, University of Otago, Otago Polytechnic and Landcare Research New Zealand Limited Landscape Connections Trust, Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Trust, The Otago Chamber of Commerce Incorporated, Otago Natural History Trust, The Dunedin Wildlife Trust, Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Incorporated, Otago Peninsula Trust, The Pukekura Trust, Save the Otago Peninsula Society Incorporated and Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua Community Incorporated.