DOC plans $20,000 predator control expansion at Lake Rotokare

Thursday, 21 December 2017

A predator-proof fence around Lake Rotokare protected native birds in the sanctuary.

A pest and predator-control programme at a Taranaki wildlife sanctuary will be expanded because of the outstanding success rate achieved in increasing native bird numbers since 2004.

The 'halo' programme will now extend further beyond the boundary of Lake Rotokare Scenic Reserve, near Eltham, the Department of Conservation said.

Native bird numbers are on the way up at Lake Rotokawa scenic reserve.

Pest trapping began 13 years ago and was followed by a predator-proof fence around the reserve in 2008 to protect kiwi, tieke, toutouwai, hihi, matata, spotless crake and many other bird species which were under threat from pests and predators.

The Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust managed reserve includes a 15ha lake and wetland area containing pukatea and kahikatea swamp forests and rushlands.

Because bird populations had been 'spilling out' of the 234-hectare fenced reserve, a pest control programme will be implemented in surrounding reserve areas and privately-owned land, DOC Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki operations director David Speirs said.

'The need to extend the wider halo concept around Rotokare was recognised several years ago with the extension of predator control trapping in 4050 hectares of surrounding land.

'Rotokare Sanctuary and the surrounding protective halo over large areas of forested private land are hugely important contributors to enhanced biodiversity in South Taranaki and the wider aims of Predator-Free 2050 generally.'

Spiers said the programme had been supported by many groups, including South Taranaki Forest and Bird and Taranaki Kiwi Trust.

'Its ongoing success is highly dependent on the support of many conservation partners from the local community.'

The $20,000 programme will be funded by DOC Community Fund over three years, with Taranaki Regional Council, TSB, and local landowners.

The programme includes monitoring existing trap networks to identify hot-spots, increasing trap networks where required, installation of wasp control bait stations and development of a pest plant surveillance plan, Spiers said.