Read the latest SERN related news, and other news on restoration in general.
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19/1/2012
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National Wetlands Symposium to be held in Southlan
Every second year the National Wetland Trust initiates the Wetland Restoration Symposium, alternating between the North and South Islands. Held in Christchurch four years ago, Southland is fortunate to be chosen as the second South Island venue, with the Symposium being planned from Wednesday 21st – Friday 23rd March. The Southland Wetland Working Party is organising the event, with field days planned to Awarua/Waituna Wetlands and Rakatu, western Southland. This is a great opportunity to hear about what is happening locally, as well as nationally, with wetlands restoration. For further details check out the National Wetland Trust website, www.wetlandtrust.org.nz. Be in quick for the earlybird special registration price until the end of January.
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19/1/2012
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Southland Community Nursery wins National Award
Recognised in the recent New Zealand Plant Conservation Network Awards, the Southland Community Nursery, run by Chris and Brian Rance, won the ‘Plant Nursery Involved in Plant Conservation’ award for its unique approach to the growth, preservation and education of the public about native plant species. The nursery propagates local seeds and runs workshops through community groups and schools to teach volunteers the skills required to grow their own plants for restoration projects. The native plants grown at the nursery are planted all over Southland, on Council, Crown and privately owned property. The nursery is an invaluable resource for the province, with many schools using the nursery to teach children how to grow and care for native plants. There is a constant presence of long-time vol
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13/11/2011
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Endangered Haast Kiwi Released on Pomona Island
In late October, seven Haast Tokoeka were released on Pomona. This sub-species is listed as critically endangered and numbers around 370 birds in total. These birds are the first group of a planned population of 16 kiwi for the island. They form part of a distributed population based in three centres - Pomona Island, Coal Island in Preservation Inlet and Orokonui Ecosanctuary in Dunedin.
The kiwi were transported to Pomona Island on the Meridian Energy vessel, Mararoa. DOC staff and Trustees fitted transmitters to all of the birds before they were released by students from Fiordland College and volunteers from the local community.
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16/10/2011
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Environment Southland help look after Biodiversity
Environment Southland have set up a Southland Environmental Enhancement Fund which individual landowners or community groups can apply to for assistance in their work to protect biodiversity. Primarily aimed at biodiversity on private land, there is a fund of $30,000 available in this first year. An invitation has been sent out to landowners who have had an HVA (High Value Area) survey done to help progress reccommendations made in those reports towards the enhancement of these areas. However the fund is open to anyone interested in protecting biodiversity in the region. For further information contact Tim Riding, Biosecurity Officer, ES, at tim.riding@es.govt.nz or check it out on the Environment Southland website, www.es.govt.nz.
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12/9/2011
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Bushy Point Restoration takes a big leap forward
Thanks to the Rugby World Cup Living Legends team, the Otatara Landcare Group's restoration project at Bushy Point has achieved in one day what they hoped to do in five years. On Sunday 11th September over 200 people came to help plant 5,000 locally sourced and grown native plants to finally bridge the gap between the two remnants of forest on the western edge of the estuary. This project resulted from a report to Invercargill City Council in 1998 by David Norton, recommending that the best ecological outcome for this area would be to restore the corridor between these two areas. He noted that the forest present here was nationally significant, being podocarp forest on sanddunes, rarely found around the coast of NZ. A great effort by the Living Legends team and OLG.
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13/7/2011
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Environment Southland Recognises Restoration Work
There was a prestigious gathering of Southlanders involved in restoration work across the Southland Plains at the recent ES annual Environment Awards. Congratulations to all those people/groups who were put forward for the Awards, but especially those that took out the top place for their extra special work. Congratulations to Brian and Chris Rance for winning the Individual Award, for their work with the Community Nursery and the Otatara Landcare Group; to the Oraka-Aparima Runaka's Raratoka Project for the Community Group Award; the Commercial Award went to Southern Discoveries for their support of the Sinbad Sanctuary Project; and the School's Award to Fiordland College and their Kids Restore the Kepler project.
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13/6/2011
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Green Ribbon Award for Pomona Island Trust
Congratulations to the hardworking volunteers of Pomona Island Trust who were well recognised for all their efforts with the presentation of a Green Ribbon Award last week. This recognised their work in the protection of biodiversity, with the removal of pests from Pomona and Rona Island and the reintroduction of the the threatened bird species, mohua or yellowhead. Pomona Island is also playing an important part in the Haast kiwi breeding programme, acting as a nursery for the young kiwi until they are large enough to be released in to their natural West Coast territory, which isn't so predator free. For more information on the Pomona Island Trust check out their website at www.pomona-island.org.nz.
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6/6/2011
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WLG Gravel Pit celebrates World Environment Day
The Gorge Road School will join the Waituna Landcare Group to assist in the restoration of the Gravel Pit with the planting of red tussocks in celebration of World Environment Day and Arbor Day. The event will also mark the unveiling of the first interpretation of the wetland restoration, thanks to DOC's Arawai Kakariki team. The WLG are grateful to the Honda Tree Fund for assistance with the purchase of plants for the day.
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25/3/2011
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Mohua Move to Pomona Island
A major milestone for the Pomona Island Charitable Trust was reached with the release, in February, of 42 mohua on
Pomona Island. “This was the first transfer of a threatened bird species to the island” said Chair of the Trust John
Whitehead “so it is a significant achievement for us”. The birds were caught on Breaksea Island off the coast of Fiordland,
with financial support for the operation being provided by the Meridian Energy Te Anau Manapouri Community Fund.
The Trust is also grateful to the Department of Conservation for its on-going support for the restoration of Pomona
Island. For further details, check out the Trust's latest newsletter at www.pomona-island.org.nz
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18/1/2011
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New native plant website
Southland Community Nursery has a brand new website - www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz
It contains lots of plant information specific to Southland - propagation techniques, planting lists, planting profiles, threatened plant information, information for volunteers, places to visit and lots of photographs.
Visit the site and then visit the nursery on a Friday morning.
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2/12/2010
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Eglinton Valley Trapping Good News
DOC have had a trap line in place along the Eglinton Valley road for 10 years. Recent lizard population surveys show that numbers have increased from 20 to near 1,000 per monitoring plot. Good news for the black fronted terns that nest in the nearby riverbed, fish and lizards being a main food source. A recent working bee led by PC Taylor of Knobs Flat, found a number of tern nest sites along the edge of the Eglinton River. Nesting amongst the open gravel areas, the growth of lupins on the gravel beds creates the perfect hiding place for predators. The removal of lupins is a focus of a restoration project here. In areas where the lupins are not so dense, hand pulling is being undertaken. Volunteers to help with this work are always welcomed by PC – contact him at info@knobsflat.co.nz.
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2/11/2010
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More Kereru for Otatara
Thanks to an approach by May and Russell Evans to the Otatara Landcare Group (OLG), kereru should now be less at risk of being hit by vehicles around the streets of Otatara. The Evans run Bush Haven, a place where injured birds can be taken to. They are all too aware that being hit by a car is a real risk for the native birds living in the bush in this special area west of Invercargill. An approach was made by the OLG to the Invercargill City Council to look at the idea of erecting 'Caution Kereru' signs to encourage people to slow up and watch out for low flying birds on streets kereru frequent. The Regulatory Services Committee supported the proposal, with the roading department overseeing the sign construction and erection. A wonderful example of community working with council for posit
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22/6/2010
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Hokonui Tramping Club Hits Pests on the Head.
Peter Thompson reports: “The trapping programme at East Peak has gone extremely well since starting in November, with a small group of dedicated helpers checking and rebaiting the 50 DOC 200 traps every weekend. Fresh rabbit & hare bait has been used throughout the summer but now have changed to salted bait which will be checked fortnightly throughout the winter until spring.
Our catch totals as of the end of May are: Stoats 49, Ferrets 15, Weasels 8,
Hedgehogs 20, Rats 36, Mice 15 (The latter were caught with mouse traps in the
tunnels after the mice kept eating the bait.)
There is a growing interest in the programme & we are presently working on a display for the club photo box in the Main Street, Gore.”
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11/4/2010
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Another helping hand for Pateke in Fiorldland
One of Fiordland Conservation Trust's latest projects is the Pateke/Brown Teal transfer which is happening in the Arthur Valley, Milford Track. The pateke is endemic and is New Zealand's most endangered species of waterfowl.
In March 2009, twenty young pateke were released into the Arthur Valley in Fiordland. This was the first large release of pateke in the South Island and has been one of the most successful releases of pateke anywhere in the country.
The Fiordland Conservation Trust, in partnership with Ultimate Hikes, has just released a further forty pateke in to the Arthur Valley, and hope to do another forty in 2011. The plan is to build a self sustaining population by 2014. For more information on this project, please look at FCT's website www.fiordlandconservationtrust.org.nz.
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20/1/2010
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Successful Kakapo AI a World First.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) kakapo recovery team has carried out a world first – the successful artificial insemination (AI) of a wild bird population.
Paternity tests confirmed artificial insemination, assisted by international bird reproduction expert Dr Juan Blanco, produced two chicks from two different females this breeding season.
“This is a major break through for the recovery programme,” said kakapo recovery manager Deidre Vercoe.
Go to www.kakaporecovery.org.nz for more information about this exciting development in the kakapo recovery programme.
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13/11/2009
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Exciting Projects for Fiordland Conservation Trust
The first Fiordland Conservation Trust annual report shows how community conservation involvement in Fiordland National Park is booming. Rachel Cockburn, FCT's Manager writes, "The 2009/10 year looks set to be incredibly busy." Projects include the Sinbad Sanctuary, supported by Southern Discoveries through a $35,000 p/a donation and Indian Island pest eradication, to name a few. She reports, "A key focus for the coming year is the Kepler Peninsular "Backyard Birdsong" project which is still in its planning stages. The project will be run in conjunction with the long term and very effective trapping project currently carried out by the Kepler Challenge Committee."
For more information on the Trusts activities visit www.fiordlandconservationtrust.org.nz
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23/10/2009
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Pomona Island Stoat and Rat Free for over 2 Years.
No stoats or rats have been caught on Pomona or Rona Islands now for over two years. This is largely thanks to the extensive trap network which is now set up on the mainland opposite both islands. Thanks to generous donations from the Gary Chisholm Family Trust of Christchurch the Trust now has 72 stoat/rat traps opposite Pomona and 44 opposite Rona. Viv Shaw, Pomona Island Trust member, reports "These are checked monthly and with the predicted beech mast a reality we are catching a fair few rats and mice each month".
Earlier this year 51 South Island robins were released on Pomona and 20 on Rona. The birds have been pairing up and Trust members are hopeful that they will start to see juvenile robins on the islands before Christmas.
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24/9/2009
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Sirocco, the Kakapo - The Not so Flightless Parrot
Sirocco, a hand reared kakapo from the early days of the breeding program, considers himself more aligned to humans than his own type. Because of this he has become quite a celebrity, appearing on numerous occasions as the face of the kakapo. Having just flown to Auckland in early September for a stint at the zoo, he is now back in home territory and about to entertain visitors to Stewart Island. If you would like to see Sirocco, in residence on the amazing Ulva Island between 26th September and the 26th October, then check out http://stewart-island-news.com/kakapo.html for more details.
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24/9/2009
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High Value Area (HVA) Surveys – A Work in Progress
In May and June this year, thirteen rapid ecological assessments of HVAs were conducted on nine private properties in the Waituna, Mataura and Longwoods districts. This assessment system has been developed by Environment Southland staff based on current best-practise ecological survey methods. The survey is undertaken by an independent contractor, who then compiles a report for each site, which provides factual and reliable information about the natural and ecological values present. They also present a range of management options for the natural areas to ensure they are there for future generations to enjoy. These reports are given to the landowner and have been very well received for those done to date. Funding to continue and expand the HVA programme for the next three years has bee
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24/9/2009
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Wairaurahiri Jet Extend Predator Control Work
With assistance from Biodiversity Southland Co-ordinator, Janet Gregory of Landcare Trust, Joyce Kolk and Johan Groters of Wairaurahiri Jet have been able to extend their pest control work along the South Coast Track from the river to the Percy Burn Viaduct. An application put together by Janet to the Biodiversity Condition Fund round announced in May 2009 was successful and with the grant and other sponsorship they purchased 50 more traps. In the three months (June to August) these traps have been in place they have caught 15 stoats and 15 rats. With the original trap line down the Wairaurahiri River, in the past 6 months they have caught 13 stoats and 42 rats. Joyce comments that it is interesting to note that when they first started trapping down the river the stoats outnumbered the rat
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19/8/2009
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Waituna Gravel Pit Reveals Great Diversity.
A disused gravel pit on the way to Waituna Lagoon is about to change it's looks. From being a gorse infested area, which people were inclined to use as a rubbish dump, a combined effort by the Waituna Landcare Group and AWAG (Awarua/Waituna Advisory Group) will see this area transformed over the next few years. Already a visit by the Gorge Road School pupils helped to remove rubbish and weeds from the area and DoC staff have made a great start at getting the gorse under control. A botanical survey by DoC botanist, Brian Rance, revealed 50 native plant species had already recolonised the area. As well, during the tidy up the native common skink was found to be residing there. So watch this developing natural wetland as it gets a helping hand.
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20/7/2009
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Farmers leading Biodiversity Enhancement.
With the recent launch of a book of Biodiversity Case Studies, brought together by Janet Gregory, Landcare Trust and Biodiversity Southland Co-ordinator, there is a new resource for farmers to read about how they might protect biodiversity on their farms. Covering eight different examples the book outlines how farmers went about getting funding assistance to bring to fruition their goals of protecting areas that they saw as special. The book covers topics like fencing off forest remnants, undertaking pest control, reinstatement of wetlands. If you would like a copy of the book then please contact Janet Gregory, (03) 208 7883 or email janet.gregory@landcare.org.nz
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20/7/2009
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New QEII Rep for Southland
In 1997 Gay Munro was fortunate to take over the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Representative's position from Roger Sutton. Roger had undertaken the task from the beginning of QEII in 1978. Now, on Gay's retirement, the position is being taken up by Graeme Watson, a farmer from Roslyn Bush. Graeme is a keen fly fisherman and has a very real appreciation of natural heritage values and the huge part that protection of these forest, shrubland, tussock remnants play in maintaining the good water quality in our rivers and streams. With Roger's son Mark, being responsible for QEII covenants in the Waiau catchment, Graeme takes on responsibility for the rest of Southland. If you have any enquiries about the QEII and covenants, then please contact Graeme at (03) 230 4843.
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4/7/2009
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Garston and Hedgehope Schools Lead the Way
Environment Southland judges for the School's Section of this year's Environment Awards were most impressed by the great effort of Garston School with the 1,500 hours put in to restoring the roadside bank beneath the school in natives. Garston shared first prize in the School's Section with Hedgehope School, who have had a busy year working with the community in a Treemendous Makeover of a waste area of their school grounds, planting it out in natives. They have also become involved in restoration plantings at the Turnbull Sherwood Forest.
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4/7/2009
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Guardian of Sherwood Forest Recognised
Environment Southland recognised the stirling effort by Pat Turnbull in her continued stewardship of the nationally significant matai forest remnant on her property with the Individual Award at this year's ES Environment Awards. Since the death of her husband, Derek, in 2007, Pat's continued enthusiasm for the BCF restoration work being undertaken at Sherwood Forest and her encouragement of many Southland groups to visit and become involved in that work was acknowledged by the ES judges.
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20/5/2009
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Robins back on Pomona Island
The hard work of the Pomona Island Trust volunteers eradicating predators off the Manapouri island over the last few years has come to fruition with the recent release of the South Island robin into the area. This achievement recognises the major effort of the trustees, along with the 160 plus people that they have encouraged to put in over 3,300 volunteer hours. This robin release is the beginning of the reintroduction of bird species now gone from the island, with the release of yellowhead, saddleback and then kiwi planned over the next few years, along with the ongoing pest control work. Check out the Pomona Island restoration under Projects.
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20/5/2009
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Kakapos Rock!
This Saturday, 26th May, Southlanders again have a chance to get up close with those very special birds, the kakapo. Celebrating a very successful breeding season, some of the kakapo chicks that have been hand reared in Invercargill for the last couple of months, will be on display at the Working Mans Club from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Congratulations must go to a very dedicated kakapo team that have managed to handraise 26 of the chicks. Another 7 chicks have been left with the mothers on Codfish Island, still requiring a lot of input from the kakapo team. The National Kakapo Team was started in 1995 when there was only 51 birds left, most of them being males. This year's 'boomer' breeding season brings the population of kakapo to 124.
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23/3/2009
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Pateke back in Fiordland after 15 Years
Pateke (Brown teal), one of the world's rarest ducks, has just been reintroduced back into the Arthur River, having last been recorded in Fiordland 15 years ago. A survey by DoC several years ago showed that there were no naturally occurring populations remaining. The pateke captive breeding program is a joint DoC/Ducks Unlimited project and for the last few years the focus has been to release the ducks back into areas where animal pest control is going on for other species. Prior to this, the releases into the wild have all been in the North Island, so it is exciting to have them now back into the wild on the mainland! Thanks to Banrock Station Wines, who have been sponsoring the pateke releases for a number of years, twenty pateke were let go in a quiet back water of the Arthur River
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9/3/2009
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Improved Habitat on Mararoa River
At the Landcare Networking Day at The Key last Saturday, the gathering of groups heard about the influx of nesting black billed gulls and terns just below the bridge as a result of the willow clearance project that has been undertaken over the last couple of years. Fish habitat is expected to improve as the river reforms the natural meanders, after having been constricted into channels by the previous willow domination.
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10/12/2008
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Predators Beware on Bluff Hill
Since the launch of the Bluff Hill Environment Trust in early November, trapping for mustelids has been going strong on Bluff Hill. Interestingly they have caught about the same number of weasels as stoats, the latter generally being considered the most common mustelid around Southland. If you are not sure of the difference between the two, check out the group's website at www.bluffenvirotrust.org, where you can also follow the trapping figure updates. Photos are also available at SERN's Bluff Hill Project site (Check out the Project Directory)
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31/10/2008
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Kokako Back on the Mainland.
Well, almost! In early October a transfer of North Island kokako to predator free Secretary Island was undertaken by Department of Conservation. This project was assisted by the Fiordland Lobster Company. Congratulations to all involved. It is excellent that private business and the Department of Conservation can work together to bring about these wonderful conservation gains.
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