North Canterbury News: July 07, 2022

Deer, pigs athreat
By ROBYN BRISTOW
One of greatest threats to the survival of
biodiversity in Hurunui District are
pests such as wild deer and pigs.
This was one of the messages
delivered to acommunity meeting held
at Waipara organised by the Hurunui
Biodiversity Trust.
The meeting was called to discuss the
development of adistrict wide
biodiversity resource, which would be
available online and in hard copy.
Trust Chair Dave Nicholls said when
completed it could provide local
landowners with aresource to help them
take action to protect and enhance the
biodiversity on their land.
‘‘Everyone interested in protecting
biodiversity wants to know where to
start,’’ Mr Nicholls said.
‘‘We hope by developing an accessible
biodiversity resource everyone in the
district can learn more about the value
of the biodiversity on their land, the
threats from pest species, and the steps
they can take to protect biodiversity.’’
Mr Nicholls, and trustees Michael
Bennett and Jamie McFadden spoke
about protecting biodiversity from the
dual challenges of pest species and
climate change.
Mr Bennett said communities needed
to understand and appreciate
biodiversity in order for them to thrive,
and the Trust saw the need to
consolidate information in one resource
for the local community.
The spread of pest species is one
example of what could be compiled into
an online resource.
Mr McFadden, who shared amap
identifying where deer were apest
across the district, said the prevalence
of pest species inhibited natural
regeneration, and meant efforts to
establish biodiversity, such as planting
winter
trees, were often awaste of time, as it
was easily trampled or eaten by deer.
In many areas protecting existing
biodiversity from being destroyed by
pests was agreater priority, in the short
term, than new plantings.
Mr Nicholls said the biodiversity
resource could help inform people about
the threats so they could make informed
decisions to protect biodiversity on their
properties.
‘‘There’s alot of information required
to make informed decisions about
biodiversity,’’ says Nicholls.
‘‘You need to know what you have and
why it’s worth protecting. Then you need
to know what the threats are, including
pests such as deer and pigs and invasive
weeds. And finally, but most
importantly, people need to know what
steps to take to protect their biodiversity
and what support and funding might be
available to help them.’’
People at the meeting were invited to
write down their needs and ideas for the
biodiversity resource.
Mr Nicholls said the group discussion
tapped into the challenges many people
have with managing biodiversity.
‘‘There’s been ashared experience of
disappointment and disillusion when
pests or the climate destroys new native
plantings.’’
‘‘People want to do their bit for the
environment and planting natives seems
like the right thing to do and it can be in
the right place.
‘‘However, landowners need to know
the factors that influence biodiversity,
including its value, the threats to it and
the opportunities to enhance it, across
their properties and the district to be
able to understand what will give the
best return to biodiversity from their
efforts.’’
Further meetings are planned as the
resource takes shape.
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The North Canterbury News, July 7, 2022
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