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1. Operation Summary n~n Ikplda al }( GnlxnalhHl frfya.11+:?~I EPA Report: Verified Source: Pestlink Operational Report for Possum, Ship rat Control in the Mapara Management Area 25 Aug 2018 - 06 Sep 2018 2/11/2018 Department of Conservation King Country Contents 1. Operation Summary Operation Name Possum, Ship rat Control in Mapara Management Area Operation Date 25 Aug 2018 - 06 Sep 2018 District King Country Region: Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki Pestlink Reference 1819MPT01 Treatment Area Mapara Management Area Size (ha) 1525.80 Conservation Unit Name(s) GA Id(s) Conservation Area - Mapara 2798327 Mapara Wildlife Management Reserve 2798328 Treatment Block Details Treatment Blocks Size (ha) Grid Ref GIS Ref Mapara Management Area 1525.80 Br33 Contractor Name NA Treatment Dates Start Completion Mapara. Management Area 25 Aug 2018 06 Sep 2018 Target Pest Details Target Treatment Blocks Control Method Name Pests Mapara Management Possum, Pesticide Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Mapara Area Ship rat Management Area-(1) Conservation Outcome(s) To increase the number of territorial pairs of Kokako in the Mapara Management Area by the next Kokako census in 2021. The health and integrity of the forest plant communities within the Mapara Management Area are maintained Result Target(s) Treatment Area/Block What we got • To reduce rat Mapara Management Area 0% indices to less than 5% RTI by 30 November 2018 • To reduce possum Mapara Management Area No post operational monitor was indices to less than undertaken as the pre-operational 5% RTCI by 30 monitor results were already December 2018 below the operational target. Outcome Targets What we got • To increase the number of territorial kokako pairs Mapara census report 2017 DOC from the current 154 pairs to 250 pairs. 5471568 Mapara kokako recovery report 2018 DOC 5528993 2. Introduction 2.1 TREATMENT AREA Non-target species Common Name Scientific Name Dog Canis familiaris Cattle Bos taurus Sheep Ovis aries Target benefit species Common Name Scientific Name North Island kokako Cal1aeas wilsoni grey warbler Gerygone igata whitehead Mohoua albicilla Chalinolobus tuberculatus Long-tailed bat DON'T USE North Island fantail Rhipidura f jhginosa placabilis long-tailed cuckoo Eudynamys taitensis shining cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus lucidus North Island fernbird Bowdleria punctata vealeae bellbird Anthornis melanura melanura Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae Tui novaeseelandiae New Zealand pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae Tomtit Petroica macrocephala North Island robin Petroica longipes Australasian harrier Circus approximans bush falcon Falco novaeseelandiae "bush" Threatened species Pestlink Ref: 1819MPT01 Page 2 of 9 Date Printed: 22 Nov 2018 Common Name Scientific Name North Island kokako Callaeas wilsoni bush falcon Falco novaeseelandiae "bush" North Island fernbird Bowdleria punctata vealeae Chalinolobus tuberculatus Long-tailed bat DON'T USE Geographical location The Mapara Management Area is situated 35 km SE of Te Kuid. TREATMENT BLOCK DETAILS: Treatment block Mapara Management Area The Mapara Wildlife Management Reserve and Mapara Conservation area are predominantly scattered podocarp /tawa /broadleaf forests. The canopy is dominated by tawa with the occasional emergent Vegetation type podocarp. Other canopy species include kamahi, hinau and rewarewa. The diverse shrub-hardwood understory includes five-finger, mahoe, coprosma, fuchia, pate and pigeonwood. Some privately owned native bush and pine forest was also treated as part of the operation. Biochmatic zone lowland Climate characteristics: Rainfall 1496 mm Temperature: Average Summer 18.4 Average Winter 7.4 Snow level -m Altitude 260-611 m There is a public walking track in the northern section of the block. Community and Iwi This receives low use, mainly by hunters and bird watchers. Low level interests recreational hunting of goats and pigs occurs throughout the block. There are remains of past commercial logging activity (steam boiler, Historic sites brickworks, tramway) 2.2 MANAGEMENT HISTORY Management history was not chosen to be shown in this operational report. This history is, however, available via Pesdink 3 Outcomes and Targets 3.1 CONSERVATION OUTCOMES To increase the number of territorial pairs of Kokako in the Mapara Management Area by the next Kokako census in 2021. The health and integrity of the forest plant communities within the Mapara Management Area are maintained 3.2 TARGETS Pestlink Ref: 1819MPTOI Page 3 of 9 Date Printed: 22 Nov 2018 3.2.1 Result Targets The result targets for the treatment area were: • To reduce rat indices to less than 5% RTI by 30 November 2018 • To reduce possum indices to less than 5% RTCI by 30 December 2018 3.2.2 Outcome Targets The outcome targets for the treatment area were: • To increase the number of territorial kokako pairs from the current 154 pairs to 250 pairs. 4 Consultation, Consents & Notifications 4.1 CONSULTATION Consultation was undertaken with all adjoining landowners and with any landowners who wished to have their land included in the operation. This was done face to face. Landowners filled out and signed a landowner form and the operational boundary was agreed on a map. Copies of both of these documents were sent to the landowner once the final boundary had been agreed on. Water supplies were identified and if they hadn't been GPS'd in past operations this was done. Dog muzzles and emetic tablets were offered to landowners, farm managers and farm workers. Fencing and movement of stock was also agreed on where there were no fences. Any damaged fences identified on PCL boundaries were fixed prior to the operation commencing. Pig control was undertaken by DOC contracted hunters prior to the operation starting due to concerns by one adjoining landowner about pig damage to his paddocks due to the fact that there would be no pressure on the pig population by local hunters who wouldn't want to take dogs into the operational area for a time after the operation had been undertaken. Local Iwi were contacted and offers made to meet and discuss the operation. These offers were never taken up. On the whole there was little interest shown by local Iwi in regards to the operation. Mapiu and Benneydale schools were contacted, an offer to both schools for a DOC staff member to talk to them about the operation was put forward, none of these were taken up. A key fact pack was also sent out to the school, and they were asked to contact DOC if any concerns arose. No concerns were raised. Fish and game Auckland/Waikato, North King Country Deerstalkers and the Te Kuid Pig Hunting Club were included in the long range notification, no concerns were voiced. Consultation outcomes There was good support for the operation to go ahead, especially from landowners who had seen the results from previous operations. Lessons learned Nil 4.2 CONSENTS Pestlink Ref: 1819MPT01 Page 4 of 9 Date Printed: 22 Nov 2018 Consent Consent date File Reference Permission ID Public Health Permission 23/07/2018 18-3492-CM-WAPH DOC Permission 30/07/2018 DOC-5566388 Landowner 1 15/06/2018 DOC-3048738 Landowner 1 Landowner 2 01/05/2018 DOC-3048738 Landowner 2 Landowner 8 19/06/2018 DOC-3048738 Landowner 8 Waitomo District Council Paper 23/02/2018 DOC-5418285 Landowner 9 roads Lessons learned Nil 4.3 NOTIFICATION 13/02/2018- Landowners, local hunting groups, fish and game, consent providers were sent long range notification. 03/07/2018- People living within 3km downstream of the operational area that might possibly draw water from within or downstream of the operational area were sent letters. 18/07/2018-Police, marae, Iwi, concessionaires, landowners, adjoining landowners, hunting groups, medical facilities, schools and consent providers were sent pre operational notification letters. Operation advertised in the Waitomo news on 24/07/2018 and Taumarunui bulletin on 26/7/2018. Lessons learned Nil 5 Methods 5.1 TARGET SPECIES Treatment Block Mapara Management Area Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Mapara Possum Management Area-(1) Ship rat Target Treatment Block Control Method Name Pest Species Mapara Management Area Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Mapara Possum Management Area-(1) Ship rat Trade name of pesticide 0.15% 1080 Pellets RS5 Name of pesticide Sodium fluoroacetate Type of bait Cereal pellet Pestlink Ref: 1819MPT01 Page 5 of 9 Date Printed: 22 Nov 2018 Toxic loading 1.5 g/kg Bait quality sampling Not Conducted Bait Details Pre-feed Toxic Bait type Cereal pellet Cereal pellet Lure/ mask/ deterrent Cinnamon Cinnamon Lure/ mask/ deterrent 0.15% 0.30% Dye None Green Individual Bait Weight 6.Og 6.Og Sowing Rate Details Pre-feed Date Rate(kg/ha) Wind Speed Direction 25/08/2018 2.00 Light West Toxic Wind Date Rate( kg/ha Direction ) Speed 06/09/2018 2.00 Light South Time between pre-feed and toxic 12 End of Caution Period Date 06/05/2019 Aircraft type Squirrel AS 350 Number of Aircraft 1 Sowing gear details Description Capacity Underslung sowing bucket 800 kg Type of navigational guidance Trac Map system used Loading Method Hyab Complaints and Incidents 8 Cattle died after pushing through a gate and accessing baits in the operational area. Other Details about this method Deviations from planned operation Lessons Learned 5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS Pestlink Ref: 1819MPT01 Page 6 of 9 Date Printed: 22 Nov 2018 5.2.1 Effects on Non-Target Species Dogs are highly susceptible to 1080, there is a risk of farm or pig hunting dogs ingesting baits or scavenging poisoned carcasses. A secondary by-kill of mustelids and feral cats is expected and potentially contributes to the conservation outcome. Effects on Non-Target Species Not Applicable 5.2.2 Effects on Soil and Water Quality There is little chance of any serious long term effects on soil and water quality due to the solubility and fast breakdown of 1080 baits into harmless by products.
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