Restoring the Dawn Chorus to Maungatautari

Story By Julie Milne

Maungatautari is 3363 hectares of largely intact forest which is sufficient to support viable populations of many threatened species. Possums did not occur on the mountain until much later than in other parts of the Waikato. This makes Maungatautari the ideal setting for a project to restore the dawn chorus.

The Maungatautari Ecological Island Trusts dream is for the mountain to become an ecological island ringed by a scientifically designed pest proof fence. The fence is the critical element to the exercise as once erected and the internal pests have been eradicated no more extensive poisoning is required. The Trust can safely re-introduce threatened species such as the kiwi confident that they will thrive in the safe haven of Maungatautari. Unfortunately the North Island Brown kiwi is now in the serious decline category of DoCs threatened species report. Only 2 stoats need to be present per 100 hectares for no kiwi chicks to survive.
 

The Xcluder fence company have built several pest-proof fences across New Zealand and in Hawaii. MEIT have chosen Xcluder as their preferred contractor.

Last year MEIT sought opinion on how the public would view restoration of Maungatautari. Two supportive but potentially opposing views were expressed. One group saw the potential for education and tourism while the other group wanted to retain the aesthetic values of the mountain.

The Trusts business plan identified the construction of an enclosure which also solved the potential problem posed by the opposing views. A separate enclosure surrounded by a pest proof fence would have an education and information centre, with good walking tracks catering to the short stop visitor. The remainder of the mountain would be largely unchanged, once the perimeter fence was constructed, apart from the regenerated forest and the increased native fauna. More importantly, though, MEIT would be able to begin the re-introduction of threatened species into the safety of the enclosure and actively start to save some threatened species without having to wait for the perimeter fence to be erected.

Recently MEIT held a series of meetings to seek public opinion on the construction of a 78 hectare enclosure and the removal of vegetation. A clearing of approximately 2.7 km long and 10 metres wide will be required to provide a stable fence foundation and to prevent pests jumping from the reserve into the enclosure via overhanging trees. MEIT commissioned an ecological study of the area particularly along the proposed track to ensure that no important species are lost due to the construction of the fence. The environmental Impact Report concludes that the long term benefits to the biodiversity of the forest from the pest-proof fence outweigh the negative impacts from vegetation and soil disturbance associated with the proposed works. The Chief Executive for MEIT stated that we will continually adjust the fence line to reduce the impact of the fence on the bush.

The results of the consultation will be published shortly however if anyone would like to voice their opinion please send written comments to P.O. Box 476 Cambridge or email mail@maungatrust.org or phone 07 8237455. For more information about the project log on to www.maungatrust.org