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

Department of Conservation pest control in Pirongia Forest Park

7/8/2020

0 Comments

 
Protecting forest canopy and native bird habitat is the focus of an upcoming Department of Conservation predator control operation at Pirongia Forest Park.
The park contains nationally significant examples of ecosystems and threatened taonga species, including grey warblers, fantails, tomtits, pipits, harriers, kingfishers, New Zealand falcons, kererū, tūī, rifleman, bellbirds and whiteheads.
North Island robin and kōkako have recently returned to the maunga and translocation programmes continue to ensure the survival of their populations, says Daniel Heinrich, DoC's regional director for Hauraki Waikato Taranaki.

"Mt Pirongia is also home to the nationally critical long-tailed bat, and Dactylanthus taylorii/pua o te reinga, a small native plant which is parasitic and grows underground. We must do everything we can to support those species by controlling predators."
The Mt Pirongia control operation involves use of cereal pellets containing 1080 – a toxin approved for the control of pest species such as possums, rats and stoats. Applied aerially, 1080 is the most effective control method over large areas, and only viable method in remote, rugged terrain, says DoC.
Ground- based trapping and bait stations are effective in smaller more accessible areas – and community groups around the maunga are supporting DoC with this work. Aerial 1080 supplements the ground-based work targeting pests.
At Pirongia, control of possums will also limit browsing damage to native flora and fauna, and loss of forest canopy.
DoC monitors possum numbers through the Residual Trap Catch Index (RTCI) method – expressed as percentage of trap-nights in which possums are captured over set trap lines in a monitored area.
Monitoring over the past 20 years shows a long-term downward trend of possum numbers on Mt Pirongia, with DoC's pre-control monitoring in January showing an RTCI of 5.4 per cent.
An RTCI above this level is damaging to the forest species – so continued pest control gives DoC an opportunity to maintain benefits of low possum numbers.


Daniel says DoC partnered with Waikato Regional Council on engagement with iwi and the local community. WRC also carries out pest control on private land adjacent to Pirongia.
"DoC is transparent about its use of this product and shares information directly with communities and neighbours, and via its website www.doc.govt.nz."

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    1080
    1080 Operation
    Aerial 1080
    Bats
    Battle For Our Birds
    Bovine TB
    Catlins
    Conservation
    Deer Hunting
    DOC
    Egmont National Park
    EPA
    Federated Farmers
    Forest & Bird
    Government
    Ground Control
    Hawkes Bay
    Hunua
    Kahurangi
    Kea
    Kiwi
    Kokako
    Mohua
    Mt Taranaki
    OSPRI
    PCE
    Pests
    Possums
    Rangitoto
    Regulation
    Research
    Rock Wren
    TBfree
    Trout
    Wairarapa
    Whio

supporting organisations

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