News • Southland Ecological Restoration Network

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.

Posted on: Monday, 13 June 2011

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.

Posted on: Monday, 6 June 2011

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

Posted on: Friday, 25 March 2011

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.

Posted on: Tuesday, 18 January 2011

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 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content].

Posted on: Thursday, 2 December 2010

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