Over the next five years, Predator Free South Westland will work with the community to remove predators from the back country, rural areas and townships of South Westland.
The project will create employment opportunities, remove the risk of TB for farmers, and increase birdlife in one of Aotearoa’s most stunning landscapes.
Predator Free South Westland will build on the success of Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), which has recently eliminated predators from 12,000 hectares in the Perth River valley using “boots on the ground” labour, along with innovative trapping, baiting and detection techniques.
The mountains, rivers and lakes that surround the project area will then be used to help protect the area against predator reinvasion.
2021
Establish a project team
Eliminate predators from the Butler Range
Reduce possums and rats to very low numbers around South Ōkārito
2022
Eliminate predators from South Ōkārito forest
Reduce possums and rats to very low numbers in North Ōkārito and Whataroa farmland
2023
Build the workforce to up to 50 people
Eliminate predators from North Ōkārito and Whataroa farmland
2024–2026
Deliver predator freedom across 100,000 hectares
Eliminate predators from the back-country, between the Whataroa and Waiau Rivers
Beyond 2026
Protect
and
restore
If you’d like to know more, share your thoughts, talk about employment opportunities, or otherwise be involved, please email us at: info@predatorfreesouthwestland.nz