The following letter was written to Maggie Sergio, journalist of the Huffington Post's Green blog, on the 12 August, in response to an article she published. This response was formed after it was agreed that she would publish it to balance the discussion. This has not yet happened.
Dear Maggie
Thank you for your response to our letter re your post.
We are happy to address the two sets of questions you have raised in your reply, as well as the points of concern in your original post by Clyde Graf.
1. Why has Forest & Bird changed its position on 1080 use?
Kevin Hackwell, Advocacy Manager, Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc, replies:
In the 1970s and 1980s Forest & Bird was one of the main organisations that was publicly raising serious questions about the fact that 1080 was being used to kill introduced possums in our native forests, yet there was growing evidence that there was also an unacceptable level of incidental by-kill of native birds.
As a result of that public concern a lot of research has been carried out to improve the efficiency of the use of 1080 and to reduce the levels of incidental by-kill of native species.
Whereas between 30 and 40 kg/ha of carrot bait was commonly being used in the 1970s, standard operations these days use just 1.5 - 3 kg/ha of manufactured cereal baits (there is work underway to reduce that to 0.5 kg/ha). These manufactured cereal baits are dyed dark green and have lures that are attractive to possums and rats but are unattractive to birds.
Dear Maggie
Thank you for your response to our letter re your post.
We are happy to address the two sets of questions you have raised in your reply, as well as the points of concern in your original post by Clyde Graf.
1. Why has Forest & Bird changed its position on 1080 use?
Kevin Hackwell, Advocacy Manager, Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc, replies:
In the 1970s and 1980s Forest & Bird was one of the main organisations that was publicly raising serious questions about the fact that 1080 was being used to kill introduced possums in our native forests, yet there was growing evidence that there was also an unacceptable level of incidental by-kill of native birds.
As a result of that public concern a lot of research has been carried out to improve the efficiency of the use of 1080 and to reduce the levels of incidental by-kill of native species.
Whereas between 30 and 40 kg/ha of carrot bait was commonly being used in the 1970s, standard operations these days use just 1.5 - 3 kg/ha of manufactured cereal baits (there is work underway to reduce that to 0.5 kg/ha). These manufactured cereal baits are dyed dark green and have lures that are attractive to possums and rats but are unattractive to birds.
In the last three decades a lot of research has been done on the impact of 1080 operations on the forest habitats and the native wildlife in them. There is no question that modern 1080 use is hugely beneficial to the forests and New Zealand’s native wildlife. The very comprehensive report by the independent Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on 1080 provides an easily digestible summary of the results of that research.
It is clear that 1080 is the most effective tool that we have available to control the damage done by introduced mammalian predators which are now the single biggest threat to New Zealand's unique biodiversity. A whole raft of threatened species (kiwi, whio/blue duck, kaka, kakariki, mohua/yellowhead, pekapeka/bat, kokako, rock wren, kea, etc ) have been repeatedly shown to significantly benefit from the use of 1080 to control their introduced predators.
For non-New Zealanders it is really important to understand that our 80 million years of isolation has meant that when humans first arrived here just 800 years ago, the only native land mammals were three species of bat. All the other ecological niches – that elsewhere in the world are filled by mammals and marsupials - were filled in New Zealand by either birds, lizards or insects. Our native plants and animals evolved in the almost complete absence of mammals and are therefore particularly susceptible to the impacts of introduced mammals such as rats, stoats, possums and deer.
As New Zealand’s largest independent conservation organisation many of our branch (chapter) volunteers are involved in ground-based pest control operations, using traps and bait stations (not 1080, which has very strict and rigorous professional certification standards). We are therefore very aware of the severe limitations of ground-based pest control and we strongly support the use of effective landscape scale aerial 1080 that can be used over large and rugged areas.
For all these reasons Forest & Bird has moved from its position of concern over the unwanted impacts of 1080’s use in the 1970s, to one of positive support for 1080’s wider use now.
2. Why are Forest & Bird and Federated Farmers working together on this issue?
Kevin Hackwell and Mark Ross, General Manager Policy and Advocacy, Federated Farmers of New Zealand, reply:
A number of discussions were held between Forest & Bird and Federated Farmers on the usefulness of a more coordinated approach to improving public understanding of the use and properties of 1080. It was agreed that the ideal ‘co-owners’ of the project were Forest & Bird, representing conservation interests, and Federated Farmers, representing agricultural interests. The rationale for Federated Farmers and Forest & Bird being involved includes:
The involvement of both organisations in this project is seen as an opportunity to provide a coherent, thoroughly coordinated response to the anti-1080 misinformation. It also enables us to assist in educating the wider public, by providing a clear, dispassionate set of facts endorsed by all organisations who understand the importance of 1080 as one of the key tools in pest control in New Zealand.
Co-hosting is seen as a positive relationship and provides alignment on this key issue. We note that there are other issues where the two organisations have very different positions, and this is respected, based on our differing membership bases. However we view it as healthy that we can join together on the 1080 issue as a way of uniting both the farming sector and conservationists for a common beneficial cause.
3. How does 1080 break down into salt and vinegar?
The point of the salt and vinegar analogy is that sodium fluoroacetate is a naturally occurring very simple chemical, its components being sodium, fluorine and acetate. In New Zealand we do not use rock salt, but we do use sea salt which has a small component of sodium fluoride. Acetate is a very simple organic chemical written with the formula C2H3O2. The neutral molecules formed by the combination of the acetate ion and a positive ion are commonly called "acetates". The simplest of these is hydrogen acetate, or acetic acid.
4. Compound 1080 has no known antidote, and the WHO classifies it as "extremely hazardous". Because of the enormous killing power of 1080 it is considered a weapon of mass destruction here in the US. What are your thoughts on the WHO and US position on compound 1080?
While there is no specific antidote for 1080, this does not mean that people or animals that are accidentally poisoned cannot be successfully treated. In New Zealand local vets are advised before 1080 drops are carried out and, contrary to popular belief, vets are able to save dogs suspected of eating 1080 by administering acetamide up to four hours after ingestion. (See 10 below)
There’s no question 1080 is extremely hazardous – we would be surprised if the WHO did not give this poison that classification. In New Zealand there are very strict controls on the storage, handling and use of 1080. Only registered and certified users are allowed to handle it. It should be noted that New Zealand has been using 1080 for more than 50 years and there have been no accidental poisonings of anyone during that time.
As for the US consideration of 1080 as a potential weapon of mass destruction – lots of useful chemicals gained that classification in the fallout of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We note that 1080 is manufactured in the US and that it is registered for use within the US, and that the many attempts by one of your congressmen to ban its manufacture have all failed. Given all this, we don’t quite see the point of the question about the US position.
Note: throughout Mr Graf’s piece there are many false assertions and many examples of figures and incidents being used selectively or out of context. We have endeavoured to address as many of these as possible, and have grouped our points under the following headings:
5. Tough choices
Dealing with a major, human-induced threat to our biodiversity and our economy involves tough choices for New Zealand. Should we allow introduced pests to kill our native species, or should we kill the pests, so that our native species can survive? Should we use the best pest control tools and techniques currently available, recognising that they are not perfect, or should we wait for a better solution to be found and watch more of our 2,700 vulnerable native species disappear?
6. Facts & figures
a. New Zealand has one of the highest extinction rates in the world of both plants and animals.
b. An estimated 25 million native birds are killed by introduced predators every year.
c. Without predator control, 9 out of every 10 kiwi chicks born in the wild die before reaching breeding age (12 months).
d. Stoats alone are responsible for up to 60% of kiwi chick deaths.
e. Just to survive, a stoat needs to eat the equivalent of 12.5 fantail chicks, every day.
f. There are an estimated (pg.15) 30 million possums in New Zealand, and up to 25 per hectare (10 per acre) in preferred habitats.
g. Possums kill birds and chicks and raid nests for eggs, as well as stripping the forest canopy.
h. Possums are also the host and carrier of the lethal disease, bovine tuberculosis, and, along with ferrets, are responsible for 70% of new infection in cattle and deer herds.
i. TB infected possums live in about 40% of New Zealand.
j. Sick and dying TB-infected possums come out onto farmland, where cattle and deer lick their carcasses.
k. All cattle and farmed deer must be registered with TBfree NZ and regularly tested. Any animal found to be infected is slaughtered immediately and herd movement is stopped. Dairy and meat exports are worth more than $14 billion annually to New Zealand.
l. Rats prey on small birds, chicks, eggs and insects in the forest.
m. In ideal conditions a rat can produce 10 offspring every 8 weeks.
n. Prolific seeding (‘mast’) years in South Island beech forests cause an explosion of rat and stoat populations. This year’s mast (in areas being targeted with 1080) is estimated to generate four million rats.
o. The acutely threatened kokako was pushed to the brink of extinction by possums and rats.
p. Without predator control, most female kokako are killed (pg.39) while sitting on the nest.
q. Over 8 years, aerial 1080 effectively ‘rescued’ kokako, reducing predation to the point where 50% of nests (pg.38) were able to produce young.
r. Many other native bird species, including kiwi, tomtits, whio, kakariki and mohua have been protected and their populations increased following 1080 (pg.37, footnote 88) operations.
s. Studies (p.32) have shown many species of native plants and trees show significantly better growth and survival after an aerial 1080 operation.
t. 1080 is highly water soluble and biodegradable, and does not accumulate or leave permanent residues in soil, plants, water or animals.
7. Humaneness
Use of any type of pest control (including traps and shooting) involves ethical issues and trade-offs, including humaneness relative to effectiveness and cost, while also recognising the suffering target pests inflict on their prey. The same issues arise in New Zealand with regard to protecting our stock from bovine TB.
Mr Graf describes 1080 as “a poison which causes a slow death”. Compared to the alternatives, the animal welfare impact of 1080 is described as intermediate, and it is one of the faster-acting toxins. Brodifacoum and Pindone (anticoagulants used in ground operations) take days or weeks to act, whereas 1080 kills in hours. Cyanide is the fastest acting poison but cannot be used aerially. See Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Bio Security report, 2010, How humane are our pest control tools?
Other significant factors considered in choosing the most appropriate form of pest control include: safety; scale and accessibility of terrain; likelihood of accidental by-kill of non-target species; proximity to inhabited areas, waterways, farmland and tracks; bait ‘shyness’; and weather conditions.
8. Extent of use of aerial 1080
Clyde Graf writes “By the time they [DOC] complete their aerial drops [this year], most New Zealand forests will have been poisoned, many times over.”
Here is a map of DOC’s currently planned 1080 operations. In the “Battle for Our Birds” DOC is treating approximately one third of affected beech forest (mostly in the South Island) in a mix of aerial and ground operations.
9. Destruction of forest canopy and native bush
Mr Graf writes: “In reality, possums .… do not over-browse the canopy…”
There are countless examples of the devastation caused to our forests and native bush by introduced mammalian pests. Rata, kamahi, pohutukawa, mistletoe and fuchsia are particularly vulnerable. Browsing pests compete for and wipe out critical food sources for birds including berries, flowers, fruits and invertebrates. As well as destroying the birds’ habitat and eating their eggs and young, possums disrupt the functioning of whole forest systems.
Here’s what Rangitoto Island looked like when possums and wallabies lived and roamed on the island, prior to a 1990 pest eradication programme using aerial 1080.
Jim Henry standing among Pohutukawa trees on Rangitoto Island, 1990. Photo / David White, NZ Herald. Picture Research / Emma Land
Today Rangitoto Island is free of possums and wallabies and is ablaze with healthy pohutakawa, flowering throughout summer.
10. Accidental by-kill of native and non-target species
Some inadvertent by-kill of native bird species has been recorded, but most of these occurred in past decades in operations that used poor quality carrot baits with many small fragments. Even then, monitoring indicates that these losses were more than made up for by increases in populations after pests numbers were knocked down. Today much tighter controls, greatly improved targeting and distribution methods, and development of various repellents, ensure that accidental by-kill is minimal. Nevertheless there are still some accidental deaths of native species.
Mr Graf writes: “Among the wildlife threatened by indiscriminate poisoning is one of the most intelligent birds on earth - an endangered parrot named the kea. Not only do kea love to eat the poisonous pellets, but they also scavenge poisoned carcasses. It's not surprising then that Kea die in high numbers following 1080 poison drops.”
Since 2008, 145 kea have been monitored by DOC through ten 1080 operations, with 20 recorded deaths. Recent losses (Otira 2013) occurred during part of a research programme (pg.46) testing various types of bird repellents. While the results were very disappointing, tracking work had shown that 60% of kea nests were attacked by predators, and benefits from 1080 pest control are considered to continue to outweigh the losses. Research to develop an effective repellent to prevent kea deaths is continuing.
Mr Graf writes: “What about kiwi, our iconic bird? In one of New Zealand's most heavily poisoned forests, the Tongariro, in the central North Island, 89 tagged kiwi have died in the last 5 years.”
Of 280 kiwi monitored (radio-tagged) through 1080 operations in the Tongariro Forest Park from 2007 to 2011, none were lost to 1080. Of the 280, 64 died, either through predation by stoats or ferrets, assumed predation, or misadventure. Full details were provided to Mr Graf.
Kiwi chick survival more than doubled in Tongariro Forest in 2006 after a dramatic reduction in pest numbers following a 1080 operation.
Field trials have demonstrated that aerial 1080 operations are far more effective in protecting kiwi than the labour-intensive process of trapping and hand-rearing chicks that had previously been the main strategy to save kiwi.
Mr Graf writes: “Tomtit populations have dropped 55%, New Zealand robin populations have been observed to drop between 11% to 95% ...”
In two aerial 1080 operations in 1996 and 1997 using carrot bait, 15 of a total of 53 banded robins disappeared (presumed dead) and 16 of a total of 19 tomtits disappeared.
However research carried out in 2013 at Silver Peaks, Dunedin, using cereal bait found that 1080 operations did not adversely affect robin populations, but did reduce important predators (rats and possums) to low levels.
Likewise, this paper sets out the results of studies on the impact of 1080 operations on seven forest species: kaka, ruru, grey warblers, tomtits, kereru, riflemen and robins. There was no evidence of any negative impact of 1080 on any of these species.
These papers have been peer reviewed and published in the New Zealand Journal of Ecology. The work of Ontario-based Alexis Pietak, referred to several times by Mr Graf, has been self-published on her own website and has not been refereed or peer reviewed, or published in a reputable academic journal.
Studies have been conducted involving intensive monitoring of eleven species of native bird and several other species using less precise techniques. None of these studies has identified population-level mortality which threatens the viability of the species.
Mr Graf writes: “But the threat to the ecosystem is not limited to animals and birds. 1080 is also a broad - spectrum insecticide!”
Invertebrate populations have been monitored during eight 1080 aerial operations. Monitoring of ground-based insect populations within 20cm of 1080 bait show some temporary reduction in insect populations. However numbers return to normal levels within six days after the bait has been removed or has biodegraded.
Mr Graf writes: Farm stock are dying too, and there are cover-ups being used to hide incidents.
1080 can kill cattle and other domestic farm animals if they access baits but farmers have ample notice of planned drops in areas near their farmland. Farmers are responsible for ensuring stock cannot access drop zones or bait stations. As noted in 6(j) above, controlling pests in bush areas that border on farmland is particularly important, because of the risk of possum-carried bovine TB. Farmers are generally very supportive of 1080 use and there is no evidence of any ‘cover ups’ of stock deaths arising from 1080 use.
The video (cited and made by Mr Graf) concerns an incident where cattle broke through a fence into a 1080 drop zone. Results of autopsies on the cattle are yet to be released.
It is well known that 1080 is highly toxic to dogs. A small number of dog poisonings and deaths (8) from 1080 have been reported in recent years, but the vast majority of reported dog poisonings relate to domestic use of anticoagulant rat poison, slug and ant baits.
Dog owners are notified and warned in advance to keep their dogs well away from 1080-treated areas, and muzzled if there is any risk at all of a dog straying into areas where there are baits or poisoned carcasses. Vets are advised of planned drops. Roads and tracks leading to targeted areas are clearly signposted. If a dog is thought to have eaten 1080 bait it should be taken to a vet immediately. A dog may be saved if acetamide is administered as an emetic within four hours of eating the bait.
11. Freedom of speech in New Zealand
Mr Graf writes: “But scientists, keen on feeding their families, know the price you pay for speaking out against 1080 in New Zealand - public ridicule, no more funded research, no more employment, and probably blacklisting for the rest of your career.”
Ms Sergio writes: “It deeply concerns me when I hear stories from colleagues and citizens in NZ that information critical of DoC's practices are suppressed, and that there is a bit of censorship going on.”
New Zealand is a democracy with a free press and ranks among the lowest in the world for corruption levels. It is bizarre to suggest that scientists are not free to speak their minds. There is however an expectation in the science community that opinion put forward on matters of science is appropriately and rigorously peer-reviewed and published in reputable journals, if it is to be taken seriously.
It is also ludicrous to suggest that debate on 1080 or criticism of DOC’s practices has been suppressed. DOC and TBfree New Zealand have made mistakes and will no doubt continue to, but these are invariably very well aired and lessons from them implemented. It is perhaps worth noting that DOC spends more on research for alternatives than it does on 1080 itself. Last year DOC spent $2million on 1080 operations and in the same year spent $2.99 million on trials for self-resetting traps and alternative toxins.
Information on government pest control operations is freely available, and the Department of Conservation, Landcare New Zealand, Ministry of Primary Industries, all other government agencies and all New Zealand universities are subject to the Official Information Act. As a result of the PCE’s recommendations TBfree New Zealand is now also subject to the Act. During 2007 the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) undertook a rigorous, comprehensive review of 1080, including a series of nationwide public hearings. All interested parties were invited to present written and oral submissions to an independent committee.
It is also worth noting that as well as many government and non-government agencies, a large network of private firms and groups and a huge number of individual New Zealanders are passionately interested and engaged in protecting our native animals and plants and our unique ecosystems from destruction by predators.
There has not surprisingly been vigorous debate on the use of 1080 for many years and New Zealand media have given a great deal of time and space to both sides of the argument.
It is fair to say however that the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) has settled the issue for most New Zealanders. Her reputation as a scientist and as a fiercely independent advisor to the Parliament is beyond question. All parties in Parliament, including the Green Party (but excluding one one-man party who counts hunters among his supporters) are supportive of aerial 1080 use subject to appropriate, tight controls.
While there is still debate in some parts of New Zealand, much of it is led by a small, vociferous group of deer hunters, like the Graf brothers. In fact now, with deer repellent being used in key areas, even the Deerstalkers Association has given its support to the “Battle for our Birds”.
In closing, we note the conclusion of the most recent report from the PCE:
“A predator-free New Zealand?
The idea of a predator-free New Zealand achieved by eradicating rather than controlling pests was floated by the late Sir Paul Callaghan in his last public lecture in February 2012. This idea has gained much traction within the conservation and scientific communities, sparking much discussion over feasibility.
Sir Paul’s vision was inspired by the success of Zealandia – the predator-free sanctuary in the heart of Wellington. He proposed that we should start by making both Stewart Island and Great Barrier Island predator-free and building more sanctuaries on the mainland.
It would be wonderful if this vision could be achieved, but it would involve overcoming many major challenges. Every New Zealander would have to be on board. Undoubtedly it would be expensive. And undoubtedly, 1080 would have to play a major role, unless there are scientific breakthroughs in pest control that go well beyond what has been achieved so far.
It is time the ‘bad press’ about 1080 was put to rest. It has not always been used wisely and well, and there is always room for improvement. But it should not be viewed as a ‘necessary evil’. We are lucky to have it.”
Kevin Hackwell
ADVOCACY MANAGER
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc.
Mark ROSS
GENERAL MANAGER POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Federated Farmers of New Zealand
It is clear that 1080 is the most effective tool that we have available to control the damage done by introduced mammalian predators which are now the single biggest threat to New Zealand's unique biodiversity. A whole raft of threatened species (kiwi, whio/blue duck, kaka, kakariki, mohua/yellowhead, pekapeka/bat, kokako, rock wren, kea, etc ) have been repeatedly shown to significantly benefit from the use of 1080 to control their introduced predators.
For non-New Zealanders it is really important to understand that our 80 million years of isolation has meant that when humans first arrived here just 800 years ago, the only native land mammals were three species of bat. All the other ecological niches – that elsewhere in the world are filled by mammals and marsupials - were filled in New Zealand by either birds, lizards or insects. Our native plants and animals evolved in the almost complete absence of mammals and are therefore particularly susceptible to the impacts of introduced mammals such as rats, stoats, possums and deer.
As New Zealand’s largest independent conservation organisation many of our branch (chapter) volunteers are involved in ground-based pest control operations, using traps and bait stations (not 1080, which has very strict and rigorous professional certification standards). We are therefore very aware of the severe limitations of ground-based pest control and we strongly support the use of effective landscape scale aerial 1080 that can be used over large and rugged areas.
For all these reasons Forest & Bird has moved from its position of concern over the unwanted impacts of 1080’s use in the 1970s, to one of positive support for 1080’s wider use now.
2. Why are Forest & Bird and Federated Farmers working together on this issue?
Kevin Hackwell and Mark Ross, General Manager Policy and Advocacy, Federated Farmers of New Zealand, reply:
A number of discussions were held between Forest & Bird and Federated Farmers on the usefulness of a more coordinated approach to improving public understanding of the use and properties of 1080. It was agreed that the ideal ‘co-owners’ of the project were Forest & Bird, representing conservation interests, and Federated Farmers, representing agricultural interests. The rationale for Federated Farmers and Forest & Bird being involved includes:
- We are both non-governmental, membership-based organisations
- We do not have any pecuniary interest in the use of 1080
- We both have specific goals for the continuance of 1080 usage, these being, for Forest & Bird, control of possums and other pests to protect New Zealand’s unique biodiversity, and, for Federated Farmers, the control of TB spread and the preservation of our native biodiversity.
The involvement of both organisations in this project is seen as an opportunity to provide a coherent, thoroughly coordinated response to the anti-1080 misinformation. It also enables us to assist in educating the wider public, by providing a clear, dispassionate set of facts endorsed by all organisations who understand the importance of 1080 as one of the key tools in pest control in New Zealand.
Co-hosting is seen as a positive relationship and provides alignment on this key issue. We note that there are other issues where the two organisations have very different positions, and this is respected, based on our differing membership bases. However we view it as healthy that we can join together on the 1080 issue as a way of uniting both the farming sector and conservationists for a common beneficial cause.
3. How does 1080 break down into salt and vinegar?
The point of the salt and vinegar analogy is that sodium fluoroacetate is a naturally occurring very simple chemical, its components being sodium, fluorine and acetate. In New Zealand we do not use rock salt, but we do use sea salt which has a small component of sodium fluoride. Acetate is a very simple organic chemical written with the formula C2H3O2. The neutral molecules formed by the combination of the acetate ion and a positive ion are commonly called "acetates". The simplest of these is hydrogen acetate, or acetic acid.
4. Compound 1080 has no known antidote, and the WHO classifies it as "extremely hazardous". Because of the enormous killing power of 1080 it is considered a weapon of mass destruction here in the US. What are your thoughts on the WHO and US position on compound 1080?
While there is no specific antidote for 1080, this does not mean that people or animals that are accidentally poisoned cannot be successfully treated. In New Zealand local vets are advised before 1080 drops are carried out and, contrary to popular belief, vets are able to save dogs suspected of eating 1080 by administering acetamide up to four hours after ingestion. (See 10 below)
There’s no question 1080 is extremely hazardous – we would be surprised if the WHO did not give this poison that classification. In New Zealand there are very strict controls on the storage, handling and use of 1080. Only registered and certified users are allowed to handle it. It should be noted that New Zealand has been using 1080 for more than 50 years and there have been no accidental poisonings of anyone during that time.
As for the US consideration of 1080 as a potential weapon of mass destruction – lots of useful chemicals gained that classification in the fallout of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We note that 1080 is manufactured in the US and that it is registered for use within the US, and that the many attempts by one of your congressmen to ban its manufacture have all failed. Given all this, we don’t quite see the point of the question about the US position.
Note: throughout Mr Graf’s piece there are many false assertions and many examples of figures and incidents being used selectively or out of context. We have endeavoured to address as many of these as possible, and have grouped our points under the following headings:
5. Tough choices
Dealing with a major, human-induced threat to our biodiversity and our economy involves tough choices for New Zealand. Should we allow introduced pests to kill our native species, or should we kill the pests, so that our native species can survive? Should we use the best pest control tools and techniques currently available, recognising that they are not perfect, or should we wait for a better solution to be found and watch more of our 2,700 vulnerable native species disappear?
6. Facts & figures
a. New Zealand has one of the highest extinction rates in the world of both plants and animals.
b. An estimated 25 million native birds are killed by introduced predators every year.
c. Without predator control, 9 out of every 10 kiwi chicks born in the wild die before reaching breeding age (12 months).
d. Stoats alone are responsible for up to 60% of kiwi chick deaths.
e. Just to survive, a stoat needs to eat the equivalent of 12.5 fantail chicks, every day.
f. There are an estimated (pg.15) 30 million possums in New Zealand, and up to 25 per hectare (10 per acre) in preferred habitats.
g. Possums kill birds and chicks and raid nests for eggs, as well as stripping the forest canopy.
h. Possums are also the host and carrier of the lethal disease, bovine tuberculosis, and, along with ferrets, are responsible for 70% of new infection in cattle and deer herds.
i. TB infected possums live in about 40% of New Zealand.
j. Sick and dying TB-infected possums come out onto farmland, where cattle and deer lick their carcasses.
k. All cattle and farmed deer must be registered with TBfree NZ and regularly tested. Any animal found to be infected is slaughtered immediately and herd movement is stopped. Dairy and meat exports are worth more than $14 billion annually to New Zealand.
l. Rats prey on small birds, chicks, eggs and insects in the forest.
m. In ideal conditions a rat can produce 10 offspring every 8 weeks.
n. Prolific seeding (‘mast’) years in South Island beech forests cause an explosion of rat and stoat populations. This year’s mast (in areas being targeted with 1080) is estimated to generate four million rats.
o. The acutely threatened kokako was pushed to the brink of extinction by possums and rats.
p. Without predator control, most female kokako are killed (pg.39) while sitting on the nest.
q. Over 8 years, aerial 1080 effectively ‘rescued’ kokako, reducing predation to the point where 50% of nests (pg.38) were able to produce young.
r. Many other native bird species, including kiwi, tomtits, whio, kakariki and mohua have been protected and their populations increased following 1080 (pg.37, footnote 88) operations.
s. Studies (p.32) have shown many species of native plants and trees show significantly better growth and survival after an aerial 1080 operation.
t. 1080 is highly water soluble and biodegradable, and does not accumulate or leave permanent residues in soil, plants, water or animals.
7. Humaneness
Use of any type of pest control (including traps and shooting) involves ethical issues and trade-offs, including humaneness relative to effectiveness and cost, while also recognising the suffering target pests inflict on their prey. The same issues arise in New Zealand with regard to protecting our stock from bovine TB.
Mr Graf describes 1080 as “a poison which causes a slow death”. Compared to the alternatives, the animal welfare impact of 1080 is described as intermediate, and it is one of the faster-acting toxins. Brodifacoum and Pindone (anticoagulants used in ground operations) take days or weeks to act, whereas 1080 kills in hours. Cyanide is the fastest acting poison but cannot be used aerially. See Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Bio Security report, 2010, How humane are our pest control tools?
Other significant factors considered in choosing the most appropriate form of pest control include: safety; scale and accessibility of terrain; likelihood of accidental by-kill of non-target species; proximity to inhabited areas, waterways, farmland and tracks; bait ‘shyness’; and weather conditions.
8. Extent of use of aerial 1080
Clyde Graf writes “By the time they [DOC] complete their aerial drops [this year], most New Zealand forests will have been poisoned, many times over.”
Here is a map of DOC’s currently planned 1080 operations. In the “Battle for Our Birds” DOC is treating approximately one third of affected beech forest (mostly in the South Island) in a mix of aerial and ground operations.
9. Destruction of forest canopy and native bush
Mr Graf writes: “In reality, possums .… do not over-browse the canopy…”
There are countless examples of the devastation caused to our forests and native bush by introduced mammalian pests. Rata, kamahi, pohutukawa, mistletoe and fuchsia are particularly vulnerable. Browsing pests compete for and wipe out critical food sources for birds including berries, flowers, fruits and invertebrates. As well as destroying the birds’ habitat and eating their eggs and young, possums disrupt the functioning of whole forest systems.
Here’s what Rangitoto Island looked like when possums and wallabies lived and roamed on the island, prior to a 1990 pest eradication programme using aerial 1080.
Jim Henry standing among Pohutukawa trees on Rangitoto Island, 1990. Photo / David White, NZ Herald. Picture Research / Emma Land
Today Rangitoto Island is free of possums and wallabies and is ablaze with healthy pohutakawa, flowering throughout summer.
10. Accidental by-kill of native and non-target species
Some inadvertent by-kill of native bird species has been recorded, but most of these occurred in past decades in operations that used poor quality carrot baits with many small fragments. Even then, monitoring indicates that these losses were more than made up for by increases in populations after pests numbers were knocked down. Today much tighter controls, greatly improved targeting and distribution methods, and development of various repellents, ensure that accidental by-kill is minimal. Nevertheless there are still some accidental deaths of native species.
- Kea (mountain parrot).
Mr Graf writes: “Among the wildlife threatened by indiscriminate poisoning is one of the most intelligent birds on earth - an endangered parrot named the kea. Not only do kea love to eat the poisonous pellets, but they also scavenge poisoned carcasses. It's not surprising then that Kea die in high numbers following 1080 poison drops.”
Since 2008, 145 kea have been monitored by DOC through ten 1080 operations, with 20 recorded deaths. Recent losses (Otira 2013) occurred during part of a research programme (pg.46) testing various types of bird repellents. While the results were very disappointing, tracking work had shown that 60% of kea nests were attacked by predators, and benefits from 1080 pest control are considered to continue to outweigh the losses. Research to develop an effective repellent to prevent kea deaths is continuing.
- Kiwi
Mr Graf writes: “What about kiwi, our iconic bird? In one of New Zealand's most heavily poisoned forests, the Tongariro, in the central North Island, 89 tagged kiwi have died in the last 5 years.”
Of 280 kiwi monitored (radio-tagged) through 1080 operations in the Tongariro Forest Park from 2007 to 2011, none were lost to 1080. Of the 280, 64 died, either through predation by stoats or ferrets, assumed predation, or misadventure. Full details were provided to Mr Graf.
Kiwi chick survival more than doubled in Tongariro Forest in 2006 after a dramatic reduction in pest numbers following a 1080 operation.
Field trials have demonstrated that aerial 1080 operations are far more effective in protecting kiwi than the labour-intensive process of trapping and hand-rearing chicks that had previously been the main strategy to save kiwi.
- Tomtits, robins and other native species
Mr Graf writes: “Tomtit populations have dropped 55%, New Zealand robin populations have been observed to drop between 11% to 95% ...”
In two aerial 1080 operations in 1996 and 1997 using carrot bait, 15 of a total of 53 banded robins disappeared (presumed dead) and 16 of a total of 19 tomtits disappeared.
However research carried out in 2013 at Silver Peaks, Dunedin, using cereal bait found that 1080 operations did not adversely affect robin populations, but did reduce important predators (rats and possums) to low levels.
Likewise, this paper sets out the results of studies on the impact of 1080 operations on seven forest species: kaka, ruru, grey warblers, tomtits, kereru, riflemen and robins. There was no evidence of any negative impact of 1080 on any of these species.
These papers have been peer reviewed and published in the New Zealand Journal of Ecology. The work of Ontario-based Alexis Pietak, referred to several times by Mr Graf, has been self-published on her own website and has not been refereed or peer reviewed, or published in a reputable academic journal.
Studies have been conducted involving intensive monitoring of eleven species of native bird and several other species using less precise techniques. None of these studies has identified population-level mortality which threatens the viability of the species.
- Insects
Mr Graf writes: “But the threat to the ecosystem is not limited to animals and birds. 1080 is also a broad - spectrum insecticide!”
Invertebrate populations have been monitored during eight 1080 aerial operations. Monitoring of ground-based insect populations within 20cm of 1080 bait show some temporary reduction in insect populations. However numbers return to normal levels within six days after the bait has been removed or has biodegraded.
- Farmed animals
Mr Graf writes: Farm stock are dying too, and there are cover-ups being used to hide incidents.
1080 can kill cattle and other domestic farm animals if they access baits but farmers have ample notice of planned drops in areas near their farmland. Farmers are responsible for ensuring stock cannot access drop zones or bait stations. As noted in 6(j) above, controlling pests in bush areas that border on farmland is particularly important, because of the risk of possum-carried bovine TB. Farmers are generally very supportive of 1080 use and there is no evidence of any ‘cover ups’ of stock deaths arising from 1080 use.
The video (cited and made by Mr Graf) concerns an incident where cattle broke through a fence into a 1080 drop zone. Results of autopsies on the cattle are yet to be released.
- Dogs
It is well known that 1080 is highly toxic to dogs. A small number of dog poisonings and deaths (8) from 1080 have been reported in recent years, but the vast majority of reported dog poisonings relate to domestic use of anticoagulant rat poison, slug and ant baits.
Dog owners are notified and warned in advance to keep their dogs well away from 1080-treated areas, and muzzled if there is any risk at all of a dog straying into areas where there are baits or poisoned carcasses. Vets are advised of planned drops. Roads and tracks leading to targeted areas are clearly signposted. If a dog is thought to have eaten 1080 bait it should be taken to a vet immediately. A dog may be saved if acetamide is administered as an emetic within four hours of eating the bait.
11. Freedom of speech in New Zealand
Mr Graf writes: “But scientists, keen on feeding their families, know the price you pay for speaking out against 1080 in New Zealand - public ridicule, no more funded research, no more employment, and probably blacklisting for the rest of your career.”
Ms Sergio writes: “It deeply concerns me when I hear stories from colleagues and citizens in NZ that information critical of DoC's practices are suppressed, and that there is a bit of censorship going on.”
New Zealand is a democracy with a free press and ranks among the lowest in the world for corruption levels. It is bizarre to suggest that scientists are not free to speak their minds. There is however an expectation in the science community that opinion put forward on matters of science is appropriately and rigorously peer-reviewed and published in reputable journals, if it is to be taken seriously.
It is also ludicrous to suggest that debate on 1080 or criticism of DOC’s practices has been suppressed. DOC and TBfree New Zealand have made mistakes and will no doubt continue to, but these are invariably very well aired and lessons from them implemented. It is perhaps worth noting that DOC spends more on research for alternatives than it does on 1080 itself. Last year DOC spent $2million on 1080 operations and in the same year spent $2.99 million on trials for self-resetting traps and alternative toxins.
Information on government pest control operations is freely available, and the Department of Conservation, Landcare New Zealand, Ministry of Primary Industries, all other government agencies and all New Zealand universities are subject to the Official Information Act. As a result of the PCE’s recommendations TBfree New Zealand is now also subject to the Act. During 2007 the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) undertook a rigorous, comprehensive review of 1080, including a series of nationwide public hearings. All interested parties were invited to present written and oral submissions to an independent committee.
It is also worth noting that as well as many government and non-government agencies, a large network of private firms and groups and a huge number of individual New Zealanders are passionately interested and engaged in protecting our native animals and plants and our unique ecosystems from destruction by predators.
There has not surprisingly been vigorous debate on the use of 1080 for many years and New Zealand media have given a great deal of time and space to both sides of the argument.
It is fair to say however that the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) has settled the issue for most New Zealanders. Her reputation as a scientist and as a fiercely independent advisor to the Parliament is beyond question. All parties in Parliament, including the Green Party (but excluding one one-man party who counts hunters among his supporters) are supportive of aerial 1080 use subject to appropriate, tight controls.
While there is still debate in some parts of New Zealand, much of it is led by a small, vociferous group of deer hunters, like the Graf brothers. In fact now, with deer repellent being used in key areas, even the Deerstalkers Association has given its support to the “Battle for our Birds”.
In closing, we note the conclusion of the most recent report from the PCE:
“A predator-free New Zealand?
The idea of a predator-free New Zealand achieved by eradicating rather than controlling pests was floated by the late Sir Paul Callaghan in his last public lecture in February 2012. This idea has gained much traction within the conservation and scientific communities, sparking much discussion over feasibility.
Sir Paul’s vision was inspired by the success of Zealandia – the predator-free sanctuary in the heart of Wellington. He proposed that we should start by making both Stewart Island and Great Barrier Island predator-free and building more sanctuaries on the mainland.
It would be wonderful if this vision could be achieved, but it would involve overcoming many major challenges. Every New Zealander would have to be on board. Undoubtedly it would be expensive. And undoubtedly, 1080 would have to play a major role, unless there are scientific breakthroughs in pest control that go well beyond what has been achieved so far.
It is time the ‘bad press’ about 1080 was put to rest. It has not always been used wisely and well, and there is always room for improvement. But it should not be viewed as a ‘necessary evil’. We are lucky to have it.”
Kevin Hackwell
ADVOCACY MANAGER
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc.
Mark ROSS
GENERAL MANAGER POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Federated Farmers of New Zealand
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