Kia Wh Rite Biodiversity Project RESULTS October 2014
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Kia 7`Q=VH RESULTS Whio release at Ruatiti Domain, March 2014 1 Executive Summary This report summarises the first five years of work undertaken by the Kia Biodiversity Project from 2008-2013. This project is a joint partnership between Horizons Regional Council, the Department of Conservation and local iwi and landholders aimed at improving the health of over 180,000 ha of private and conservation land within the Whanganui River catchment. This benefits threatened species such as the North Island brown kiwi and whio (blue duck), and has the additional benefit of improving overall biodiversity and forest health. The project has improved forest health through implementing over 60,000 ha of sustained possum control and monitoring, the culling of over 10,000 goats, and control of pest plants over a vast majority of the project area. The project area has captured work in the Whanganui National Park and safe-guards the Whanganui forests on the flanks of the Whanganui River. This collaborative work forms a solid foundation for a ‘whole catchment’ approach to biodiversity management in the Whanganui River catchment. Horizons Regional Council have worked with landholders to protect key bushland and wetland areas on private land, helping to achieve over 53 km of protective fencing, and weed and pest control in these areas. This work empowers land holders to have a positive impact on the health of their farms and the wider Whanganui River catchment. Kiwi protection has increased due to successful aerial 1080 operations within conservation land and the establishment of a trapping network in the Waimarino Valley. Monitoring of populations suggests an increase in numbers of adult kiwi, though further monitoring is required to observe a long-term trend in this wild population. Whio numbers have benefitted from increased protection through the establishment of extensive trapping networks within a nationally significant Whio Security Site. The number of pairs is being supported through the national captive breeding programme to assist in population recovery after a flooding event caused a steep decline in 2010. The Kia project has received fantastic community support and is actively promoted by both government agencies through a wide range of avenues. This includes avian aversion training, community events, media releases, signage, school engagements and the development of a blog and twitter page. The project has achieved measurable gains for biodiversity within the region and is a partnership brand that is recognized and respected both locally and nationally. The partnership was described by former Conservation Minister Tim Groser as a ‘model for conservation projects’. The report provides recommendations for the next operational plan which will guide the next 10 years of the project. 2 Top 10 Kia &>0'2# !&'#4#+#,21S 1. Significant improvements have been demonstrated in the .V:C .Q` .V`Q`V H:JQ]7 in the Whanganui National Park, improvements are across all species that were monitored. 2. Well over 5 ha of our most precious old growth forests are under sustained possum, rat and stoat control. Additional 27,000 ha was included in 1080 treatment just this year! 3. 0V`5 g: are removed annually from over 30,000 ha of our most significant forests. 4. Department of Conservation and Horizons Regional Council are actively controlling ]V ]VH1V of weeds across the project area. 5. Q` .V .1$ ]`1Q`1 7 G%. sites are now fully fenced and under active pest management. 6. %C`Q` .V.1$]`1Q`1 71V C:JR in the project area have been fenced and are under pest management. More are in the pipeline. 7. '% :1J:GCV(V*J1 1: 10V`:`I]C:J have been developed within the project area, and as a result more than 8ICC1QJ `VV have been planted on sensitive land. 8. '%010:C`: V.:0VGVVJGQQ VR for two out of every three years for the largest known Western North Island brown kiwi population. Well over R$ have been through kiwi aversion training. 9. Whio Security Site now contains Q0V` @IQ` `:]]1$ network along the Manganui o te Ao and \ :`%@V Rivers, @CC1$5 ]`VR: Q`8 10. 1.%:JR of people are exposed to the benefits of the biodiversity management every year as they traverse the Whanganui Journey Great Walk and the Mountains to Sea Great Cycle. 3 2VJ Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................. 7 2 Forest Health ................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Possums ................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Aims ..................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 Outcomes ............................................................................................................................ 8 2.1.3 Results ................................................................................................................................. 9 2.1.4 Recommendations for next operational plan ................................................................... 11 2.2 Goats ..................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 Aims ................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2 Outcomes .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.3 Results ............................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.4 Recommendations for next operational plan ................................................................... 15 2.3 Pest Plants ............................................................................................................................. 15 2.3.1 Aims ................................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.2 Outcomes .......................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.3 Results ............................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.4 Recommendations for next operational plan ................................................................... 16 3 Bush and Wetland Protection ....................................................................................................... 16 3.1 Aim ........................................................................................................................................ 16 3.2 Outcomes .......................................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Results ................................................................................................................................... 16 3.4 Recommendations for next operational plan ....................................................................... 17 4 Kiwi ................................................................................................................................................ 18 4.1 Aim ........................................................................................................................................ 18 4.2 Outcome ............................................................................................................................... 18 4 4.3 Results ................................................................................................................................... 18 4.4 Recommendations for next operational plan ....................................................................... 22 5 Whio .............................................................................................................................................. 23 5.1 Aims ....................................................................................................................................... 23 5.2 Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 23 5.3 Results ................................................................................................................................... 23 5.4 Recommendations for next operational plan ....................................................................... 25 6 Promotion and Sponsorship .......................................................................................................... 26 6.1 Aims ....................................................................................................................................... 26 6.2 Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 26 6.3 Results ..................................................................................................................................