1080: The facts
  • Home
  • The Facts
    • 1080 fact sheet
    • Overview of 1080
    • The science of how 1080 works
    • Facts and figures >
      • The predators
      • The victims
    • Conservation
    • Bovine TB
    • 1080 bait and delivery
    • Alternatives to 1080
    • Regulation of 1080 >
      • Changes to 1080 regulation
  • 1080 at work
    • News
    • Case studies
    • From the field
    • Tiakina Ngā Manu
  • Research + Resources
    • Research
    • Reports
    • Resources >
      • FACTS: in pictures
      • NZ predator control map
  • Projects
    • 1080 and Water
    • 1080 and Fish
    • 1080 and Dogs
    • The facts of the missing rock wren
    • 1080 and Soil
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Links
  • The Trust
    • About the Trust
    • News from the Trust
    • Our supporters
    • Contact Us

1080 and the protection of our natural environment

New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna is highly vulnerable: it evolved over 80 million years with no browsing or predatory mammals.
Picture
Protecting our vulnerable species

New Zealand in its unspoilt state was an aviary. So it’s hardly surprising that introduced mammalian pests - brought here either to be domesticated, by accident, for hunting, for the fur trade, or to control other introduced pests – have driven some of our most vulnerable species to the brink of extinction.

Killers of the night

Possums, rats, stoats, ferrets and feral cats all kill both adult birds and chicks, raid nests for eggs and are well-established throughout New Zealand. They also compete for, and wipe out, critical food sources for birds such as supplies of berries, flowers, fruits and invertebrates [1].
Picture
Our native species at risk

Introduced predators prey on our native species that are in immediate danger of extinction such as the mohua, southern New Zealand dotterel and kakariki. 

They also prey on our acutely threatened Okarito brown kiwi, kaka and North Island kokako.

Several of our nationally critical giant New Zealand snail species, Powelliphanta, and common native birds such as the tui, bellbird, fantail and whitehead are all also at risk with the abundance of introduced pests [2]. 

Feathers to Fur
Special Issue: Feathers to Fur

Click to read pg 86-114 "Predation and other factors currently limiting New Zealand forest birds"
Picture
Click to view larger image
Picture
Click to view larger image
Our native tree species are also at risk
​

Introduced pests have also devastated our forest canopy and stripped vast tracts of native bush. Rata, kamahi, pohutukawa, mistletoe and fuchsia are particularly badly affected [3].
Fuscia before and after
Before: Damage to native fuchsia from possums. After: 9 weeks of vegetation recovery following a 1080 operation
Photo: Horizons Regional Council

[1] Green, W. (2004). The use of 1080 for pest control. A discussion document. Published by the Animal Health Board and the Department of Conservation. Retrieved from www.doc.govt.nz. 
[2] Department of Conservation (2014). Battle for our birds: Beach mast response 2014. Retrieved from www.doc.govt.nz.
[3] Forest and Bird (2002). Factsheet - Killing pests and saving forests. Retrieved from www.forestandbird.org.nz.

supporting organisations

This website is operated by the Pest Control Education Trust
About the Trust | Contact the Trust