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Ecologists in action – working with communities

This presentation discusses the successful strategies employed by the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust to engage communities in biodiversity conservation. It highlights the significant challenges faced, particularly the control of invasive predators threatening native species, and underscores the importance of collaboration between local landowners, ecologists, and organizations. By leveraging local knowledge and facilitating impactful conservation projects, the Trust has made notable progress in protecting and restoring the region's unique ecosystems. Key takeaways include insights on the mix of strategies needed and the vital role of community involvement.

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Ecologists in action – working with communities

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  1. Ecologists in action – working with communities the better way to skin a cat? Ecology in Action Award, NZ Ecological Society Conference 2008, Auckland Frances Schmechel, PGDip, PhD

  2. Outline • Context • Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust • example • benefits • Observations and recommendations • Best way to skin a cat? (e.g. predator control) • do it OR • support community / landowners to do it

  3. Context • Large proportion of threatened biodiversity is on private land  implications • Best opportunities to experience ecology are near home • Real tensions between regulations and voluntary methods • Mix of tools needed • The greatest threat to native fauna – introduced predators

  4. Banks Peninsula – background • 100,500 ha • Rich biodiversity • isolated • endemics • southern limit • Originally almost all forest • Now • <1% original forest • 15% regenerating forest • sheep grazing facilitative

  5. Map of Combined Native & Endemic Bird Taxa A 1 Average Number of Taxa 56

  6. Current fauna • White-flippered penguin has declined 60-70% since 1980 (predators) • Sooty shearwater very rare • Native bats and weka have disappeared • Tūī virtually gone

  7. History of Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT) • BPDC Proposed District Plan - Jan 1997 • Task Force recommendations - Sep 1999 • Variation to District Plan • Formation of Trust commenced - Apr 2001 • Trust registered - Oct 2001 • Covenanting authority - May 2003

  8. Aim of Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust To promote conservation and long term sustainable management on private land

  9. Structure • Management committee (implementation / finances) • Subcommittees: Restoration, Projects (covenants), Funding, Communications

  10. Structure • Staff • Coordinator* (3 days/wk since 2003) • Projects / covenant officer (2-3 days/wk since 2005) • Accounts (1 day/mo since 2006) • Ecologist (1-3 day/wk since 2007) • Tui Project coordinator (1 day/wk since 2007) • Board of Trustees (oversight) * Originally ecologist, now separate positions

  11. Accomplishments • Covenants: 35 areas (> 300 ha)

  12. Accomplishments • Feral goat eradication – final stages (3375 goats since 2003)

  13. Accomplishments • Advocacy, education and networks • Field Days • Workshops • Mustelid control (2003) • Rare plants (2004) • Lizards x 2 (2005)

  14. Advocacy, education and networks Community biodiversity days Rapaki 2004 Akaroa 2005 Little River 2006 Newsletter, email networks stands at A&P shows email networks Accomplishments

  15. Accomplishments • Weed control (covenants, reserves, etc) • Wetland restoration • Banks Peninsula Conservation Forum • Tui restoration project coordinator • Environmental awards

  16. Partnerships • Ngāi Tahu • Councils • DOC • Other NGOs • QEII • Lincoln University • Landcare Research

  17. Synergies • Tui restoration group • Wild Side (predator control) • Governors Bay Landcare Group • Upper Akaroa Predator Control Group • Kaupapa Kererū – research partnership • Community Initiated Possum Control Program • Hinewai • Weta Watchers (tree weta monitoring program)

  18. Support • Landcare Trust (especially 2001 – 2007) • Facilitation • Offices / administrative support • Initial funding application for coordinator • Anderson Lloyd Caudwell (legal firm) • Legal (covenants / registration) • Trustee • Partners

  19. Funding / support • Biodiversity Advice Fund & Condition Fund • Canterbury Community Trust (salary) • WWF-HPF (partnership, tools, workshop) • Pacific Development & Conservation Fund (aka Greenpeace / Rainbow Warrior Fund) • Environmental Enhancement Fund (ECan) • Transpower Landcare Fund • Christchurch City Council • Others

  20. Elements of success • Committed, skilled volunteers / chair • Facilitation / administration / support Support by business • Funding • Support / participation by other agencies and organizations • Ecologists’ support

  21. Benefits • Funding leverage and value for money • Time • Skills • Local knowledge & wisdom • Passion for education / advocacy • Leadership and coordination (bring agencies together) • Synergies & models

  22. Benefits • Growth of • local capacity • ecological understanding • support for conservation • ‘infrastructure’ (e.g. communications networks) • Significant economic and social benefits – ‘Not Just Trees in the Ground’ WWF 2007

  23. Potential disadvantages - general • Funding • Volunteers – limits of skills / time • Efficiency • Personalities • Varying agendas (ecological input valuable) • Skills needed (requires people skills) • Duplication • Potential to distract from optimal mix of policy tools (?)

  24. Observations • Interest in ecology very high • Demand outstrips supply • Some excellent resources – (thank you!) • Hugh Wilson, ecologist & manager Hinewai • Websites (NZPCN - plants, Sanctuaries – pest control links, What Bird?, Weedbusters) • Newsletters of research results (tui, magpie) • Resources / tools (FORMAK, WWF monitoring tool kit)

  25. Recommendations - general • Ecological advice can be as, or more, important than funding • Finding of research with Canterbury farmers • Supported by literature review • Wetland in Marlborough SwampFever by Gerard Hindmarsh • But flip side

  26. Recommendations - general • Ecologists / researchers / students • Provide feedback and report results • Make results understandable and available (e.g. newsletters, advice sheets, summaries) • Funders, consider: • how created information will be shared • monitoring (require / build into funding allowance) • administration / coordination needs • salaries / timeframes

  27. Recommendations - general • Councils – work programs • consider options that include or support community groups, e.g. • predator control • monitoring • Keep in mind context • mix of tools most effective • each can be very effective if used well

  28. Acknowledgements • BPCT management committee & trustees • NZ Landcare Trust • Funders • Anderson Lloyd (Mark Christensen) • Hugh Wilson, Marieke Lettink, and many others • OnlineGroups.Net (Banks Diversity) • Environment Canterbury • Department of Conservation • Christchurch City Council • Ngāi Tahu • QEII, Summit Road Society, OSNZ, and Governors Bay Landcare Group • NZ Ecological Society

  29. NZ Dotterel Watch • Partnership (DOC & mining company) • Network of volunteer dotterel minders • Effective - between 1996 and 2004 increase of 102 birds (58%) • Two key roles / positions: • Coordinator • Technical advice • NZ Dotterel Protection workshop (yearly) Reference: Management of northern NZ Dotterels on Coromandel Peninsula (2006) J.E. Dowding

  30. Significant Natural Areas • Full loop (Marlborough, Kaikoura, others?) • Survey -> report -> recommendations to landowners -> implementation (funding) -> monitoring • Context / support: • Advisory group • Communications (newsletter, media) & advocacy • Landowner liaison • Funding leverage (outside funding sought)

  31. Significant Natural Areas • Partnerships or split models • Banks Peninsula • Implementation (based on PNA reports, Hugh Wilson), monitoring, communications, advocacy – BPCT • Surveys – CCC • Selwyn • Surveys, reports, implementation funding – SDC / NZLCT • Implementation assistance, monitoring, communications, advocacy - ? (TAK:GC)

  32. Ecologist as coordinator • Biodiversity – specific • Newsletter articles • Projects • Advice • Workshops • Agencies • Funding • Networks • Conference info • Papers

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