Resident kakapo are safe after rat poison was accidentally dropped from a helicopter over Anchor Island.
Continue Reading...Buzz words usually get up my nostrils but one particular word strikes an accord with me because I like the active engaging process that is sounds like. That word is ‘Synergy’.
There is a lot of synergy between the Department of Conservation and volunteers. Without the energy and enthusiasm that volunteers bring to conservation work, many tasks that may be lower in priority, can get done and add real value to the overall conservation effort.
Volunteers relax during a days work.
I did that!
It’s about making a positive difference. It could be painting a hut, planting a wetland, helping on a species recovery programme, clearing predator traps, being a hut warden and the list goes on. Being a conservation volunteer is about taking responsibility for your environment and having a good time into the bargain. The mutual benefits for DOC and volunteers are etched on the smiling faces of everyone involved.
A young volunteer chips in with tree planting.
Up up and away!
Volunteering may mean getting to places that are out of the way and almost inaccessible. Take the case of some keen rock climbers who, under normal circumstances, would never have gotten to the middle of Fiordland to climb. An opportunity arose to look at a rare lizard that lives on steep rock faces and to access the site, rock climbing skills were needed. The climbers were able to access the steep cliffs, bag some climbing and provide support to understanding a species that is known from only one site in the world! Now that’s a win-win, isn’t it?
On a less arduous scale, there are opportunities to work in visitor centres. Become involved in telling stories about landscapes, historic sites, natural values and other !!
Volunteer work isn't necessarily easy.
Put your best foot forward!
So if pounding the pavements and sitting in an urban jungle doesn’t raise your pulse rate, click into the DOC website or contact your nearest DOC office and ask about volunteering opportunities. See you out there.
Links
An isolated island archipelago in mid ocean with a relict population of plants and animals found nowhere else and under threat from invasive species. Does that sound familiar? Nahh! Not New Zealand this time!
What’s natural?
The Azores are a group of volcanic islands in mid Atlantic and have small remnants of forest types that once covered much of the land around the Mediterranean Sea. These remnants are fragmented and scattered over the 9 main islands of this Portuguese autonomous region. The native plants and animals have taken a huge hit over the last 600 years of human occupation and live on the verge of oblivion with many already extinct from human induced activities. You know the story… Clear the land, bring in domesticated beasties to enable farming. Oh, and don’t forget a few unwanted hitch-hikers!
Indigenous Azorian forest remnant
What spins your wheels?
Still, the attractions in the Azores are stunning! The overlay of historic, cultural and natural attractions has put it among my favourite places on Earth – OK I haven’t been to Kazakhstan!
And weeds! Whoa! I was staggered to find so many of the weeds there are our dire enemies here too. The cliffs are strewn with ginger, woolly tobacco weed and bamboo. The exotic forests are asserting themselves in the spread and conquer process and hydrangers are the adopted regional flower in spite of being a noxious weed.
Grapes, bananas and bamboo going wild
Homesick?
An interesting feature of the landscape was the use of New Zealand pohutukawa in main amenity areas. The islands are at the same latitude as Auckland and my guess is that the pohutukawa found their way back to the Azores with whalers in the 1800s. And, the former flax industry has left New Zealand’s harakeke all over the main island.
Pohutukawa planted in a park on Sao Jorge
On the beaches, there is New Zealand spinach and on the shore line there are karaka trees and cabbage trees.
New Zealand spinach on the rocky shore
In spite of any degradation in the original natural state of the region there is a fierce pride in retention of the remaining natural values and there are the same tensions we have here. You can imagine that power supplies on an island archipelago are difficult. Wind power is going full tilt ahead on the islands to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Dairy farming has intensified (the cheese is magnificent!) but cows dot the upland landscape to fill out the postcard quotas. The grapes eek out an existence in harsh conditions and produce good rich wines from rough volcanic soils. Quality water is at a premium.
So next time you are thinking that New Zealand is the only island archipelago with major invasive pest problems, give a though for the Azores and pop in to mid Atlantic to say Hola! They would love to see you.
Links
Rosy Tin Teacaddy - Rainbow Mountain
As reported in a previous post – Rosy Tin Teacaddy are to play at the Tarawera Commemoration evening on Saturday 12th June 2010.
Billy Earl & Betty Grey are the creative geniuses behind the indie-folk band, Rosy Tin Teacaddy. As apart of the Wild creations programme they have come up with the inspiring idea of creating a new collection of songs based on their experiences, the land, and the people and stories of Tarawera.
The Wild Creations residency programme is a partnership between Creative NZ (Provides the funding) and the Department of Conservation (Host the artists) allowing great folks like Billy & Betty the opportunity to get away from it all and do what they do best – create!
The commemoration of the Tarawera eruption is run annually at the Buried Village on the first weekend following the anniversay (10th June 1886).
Buried Village Eruption Commemoration
Saturday 12th June 7pm – 9pm
Bookings essential by calling: 07 362 8287
The evening involves a couple of presentations by Anne Summerville (Rotorua Museum) and Phil Andrews (Historian/Author). Also, a special appearance by Rosy Tea Tincaddy (Billy Earl & Betty Grey) from the DOC/Creative New Zealand Wild Creations programme. They will be playing a number of their tracks that have been created during there stay in the area.
This will be a great chance to see them live. But don’t despair if Saturday doesn’t work for you. They are planning a gig during there final stay in the area (Rotorua) in August which all will be welcome. Details to come.
Hope to see you there!
We’re calling on the public to report any sightings of southern right whales along the coastline of New Zealand. So if you see one, let us know!
The fluke of a southern right whale.
A sighting near the beach at Te Angiangi, in the Hawkes Bay region has signalled the start of this year’s whale migration season and the beginning of the Department of Conservation’s southern right whale research programme.
This is a great opportunity for the public to see large whales on the coast, and also it’s a great chance to help out with our whale research.
The sightings help support the Otago University research programme that is looking into photo identification and habitat use of these animals.
Scientists get up close and personal with a southern right whale!
This research is important as it helps us to track the recovery of the southern right whale population, and to better understand the relationship between the whales seen around the mainland and those from the New Zealand subantarctic region.
Data analysed so far by scientists at the University of Auckland, has shown that there have been three matches between the mainland and subantarctic whales. Choice!
The continuation of this research will enable the Department to take measures to ensure the whales have the right level of protection.
They are mostly black in colour and can be identified by their lack of a dorsal fin, a V-shaped blowhole spray, and white growths on their heads called callosities.
DOC needs to know the date, time and location of the sighting; the number of whales; whether there were any calves; and their direction of travel.
Any southern right whale sightings should be reported immediately on the DOC hotline: 0800 DOCHOT (0800 36 24 68) and recorded using a Marine mammal sighting form.
- A couple of southern right whales.
Links
