About
The Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group (OPBG), as a working group of the Otago Peninsula Community Board, has been set up to facilitate the eradication of animal pests on the Otago Peninsula and thereby protect the area’s biodiversity values. Possums have been identified as the most controllable of the many animal pests on the Otago Peninsula, and are the primary focus of the Group. The Group wishes to work with the community to develop a collaborative approach to possum eradication.
Workshop on Biodiversity and Identification of Plants Native to the Otago Peninsula -
Wednesday 12 th May 7.00-9.30 pm Macandrew Bay Hall
Botanical Society of Otago
Note the change from our usual meeting time and venue.
This is a joint meeting with The Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group. The original native vegetation of the Otago Peninsula has mostly been cleared for pastoral farming. However scattered fragments of the original vegetation remain. The purpose of this workshop is to explore the biodiversity values associated these remnants and assist people to identify the native plants that are still found on the Peninsula.
Speakers:
John Barkla, Department of Conservation “Plant Biodiversity on the Otago Peninsula.”
Nigel McPherson, Colinswood Bush Committee “The Restoration of Colinswood Bush: A 20 Year Story.”
Moira Parker, Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group “Weed –busting.”
Mike Thorsen, Department of Conservation “Practical Identification of Native Plants.”
At the end of the formal talks a cup of tea will be served. Specimens of various plants will be laid out on tables around the hall for participants to examine. Questions on plant identification and discussion on the topics covered are welcome.
Field trip to Colinswood Bush, Macandrew Bay and the Pyramids.
Saturday 15th May, 2010
In the morning we will visit Colinswood Bush, a private covenant located in Macandrew Bay. This bush remnant was fenced to exclude stock 20 years ago. Considerable progress has been made in restoring the bush and enhancing it biological health since the inception of the project. We will continue on to the Pyramids where we will have lunch and look at the different plant communities that are found there. You will be able to practise the plant identification skills that you
learnt at Wednesdays workshop.
Meet at 9.30 am at the junction of Howard St and Barling St, Macandrew Bay. If coming from Dunedin, meet at 9am at the Botany Dept car park. Bring your lunch.
Progress so far. . .
Monitoring Results
The monitoring programme returned results indicating low to moderate possum densities – with several higher density “hotspot” areas. The number of possums found during this monitoring process means that an eradication programme is worthwhile, viable, and likely to be less costly than if possums were found in higher numbers.
Management Plan and observations
A comprehensive management plan has been formulated by independent contractors with expertise in pest control. This will be placed on this website in due course. In summary:
“Possums are decreasing stock carrying capacity, damaging forestry, eating native birds, insects and reptiles, causing the demise of native plants, damaging vegetable gardens and orchard fruit, causing noise annoyance and house damage, and pose a potential disease risk”.
Eradication of possums from the Peninsula is technically feasible with a combination of well-managed techniques implemented by experienced, industry-certified people.
Many opportunities exist for local individuals and groups to be involved in this project.
Where to from here?
Following a concerted fund raising period, it is planned for operations to begin in May, 2010. The eradication process is best undertaken in a “sector by sector” approach. Operations will begin at the Cape Saunders sector (see map below) followed by the Taiaroa Head sector, moving back towards Portobello township. To prevent re-invasion into the outer Peninsula, a controlled buffer zone between Allans Beach Road and Weir Road will be maintained.
Concurrently, in the Southern sector of the Peninsula, coordinated pest control operations will be developed with willing landowners and community members. Training days are planned for volunteers wishing to learn about the safe handling and strategic use of traps within their properties.
Collaboration with Otago University Zoology researchers is planned, to gather information on the movement and behaviour of possums in urban areas. This aspect of the project is critical to stopping the re-invasion of possums from the city-end of the Peninsula.
Another important aspect of the project will be the professional training of local people for direct employment and involvement in eradication operations.
Volunteers will be recruited to assist in the programme, both in trapping possums and in monitoring the biodiversity gains.
Otago Peninsula Possum Control Sectors
What about other pests?
Rattus rattus (the ship rat)
a stoat ready for an egg
There are several introduced animal pests on the Otago Peninsula, and all have some impact on other species. From a human perspective, this impact may not necessarily be all bad. For example, stoats prey on rabbits, which are a serious threat to farmers in the sandy area of the lower Peninsula. However, stoats are agile climbers and prey on birds nesting in holes, such as the rifleman and kingfisher. So, a person’s view of stoats may depend on their perspective.
Understanding the different values and perceptions of the Peninsula community, and how individuals view these various animal pests and their place in our landscape, is the essential first step in the process of evaluating the potential for a pest-free peninsula.