July 5th- Conservation & Weeds!

          We started off our day with hash browns, toast, and fried eggs. We then went to a lecture by Dr. Hostetler in our dorm sky lounge. It was a discussion about how New Zealand improves biodiversity and conserves within expanding urban environments. It included the three steps of expanding using Low Impact Urban Design and Development. This includes the design, construction and post-construction. We learned about how to benefit the environment while also suiting human needs. One example of this was the importance of connectivity. By using narrow roads with street trees, builders create a connectivity place for species living in urban areas. Also, if roads cut off connections between water bodies it will restrict the ability for aquatic species to travel freely up and down stream. It is important to create larger patches of natural habitats for native species to thrive. Using native plants is especially important in having a positive impact on biodiversity and natural character on a site. However, sometimes allowing some exotic plants to thrive can benefit native species planted beneath them by creating shelter. We also learned a few random facts like that almost all insects that bite are female in order to feed their eggs. Insects also are naturally guided by the moon light and by having street and city lights, we distract their travel patterns.

            We ended our discussion with the importance of education is on the public about conserving native species. Most people do not understand the importance of their daily habits on the environment. 70% of New Zealand’s weeds actually came from garden escape and rubbish bins. These exotic weeds take over New Zealand’s natural landscape and thrive by having a faster re-generation time. Later in the afternoon we saw these weeds in action, but first we took a pit-stop at the farmers market. We walked around various venders to see handmade scarves and necklaces. Most of us enjoyed chocolate cookies made by a local woman.

Farmer's Market in Lincoln

           Right beside the farmers market was where we stopped for lunch at Hillyers of Lincoln. We each got a different meat pie that was specially wrapped in a thin flakey breading similar to a pot-pie. The meat and cheese proportions were incredible, leaving everyone extremely satisfied and full to continue our journey for the day.

Hillyers of Lincoln

            This leads us to our next stop, Little River to see the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust. The first noticeable attribute of the site was the two large Totara trees beside our parking place. Mrs. Alison Evans and Mrs. Annalise Davies spoke to us about their conservation activities. They have been in effect for 13 years now and make covenants with various landowners to protect a portion of their property. This way they can not only help native vegetation, but also take data from the same places in order to see the changes they implement. When they first started on Banks Peninsula, humans had removed all by 1% of native vegetation. There are a few species of birds, like the kiwi, tui, and kokaka, were run out of the area by mammal predators. Unfortunately the moa species are now extinct, primarily due to hunting by Maori.

View from Little River Banks Conservation Trust Land

Small Totara in the Forest

Full Grown Totara in Parking Lot

Group Picture in Parking Lot

However, thanks to their efforts, Banks Peninsula is now back to 15-20% native vegetation, and they are still trying to bring back the bird species. They now have over 50 covenants with people throughout Banks Peninsula, and are continuing to gain land. They have increased the total conservation area from 431 hectares to over 1200 hectares and have also almost completely exiled feral goats. They also are involved with many activities to help bring back native birds. One example of this is the Tui Project. The tui’s are unable to migrate back to the island due to lack of connectivity points between their home and migratory lands. The Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust is helping make small connectivity points in hopes to eventually lead them back to the area to thrive again. They are also doing something similar with the Jeweled gecko, which are poached and taken as pets because they are only active during the day. Another fun fact, these geckos give birth to live babies instead of eggs.

They also use several methods in order to control exotic species. They use kill trap lines for rats, ferrets, stoats and weasels near roadways in attempt to make the area completely predator free. Below is a photograph of the device used to trap and humanely kill predators. 

Mrs. Alison Evans and the Kill Trap

We also were able to see a Tree Nettle. This species is endemic to New Zealand, meaning they only exist within the country. They are very painful if touched by human skin, sending a sharp pain into your body. 

Tree Nettle

Another control method they implement is weeding. There is a weed very similar to Darwin’s Barberry that originated from South America that is taking over New Zealand’s land.  We helped Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Davies pull out weeds from the land near Banks Peninsula. These weeds could get up to 5 meters tall! We actually encountered a few of them, and realized the amount of effort it takes to remove one of these overgrown weeds. 

Darwin's Barberry (Weed)

Erin Removing an Overgrown Weed

Ending our journey, we walked to the top of the hills to see a Pure Pod. This was a small house that is able to sustain itself fully through solar power. It was made of glass and in the middle of a covenant property. The money that make goes directly into a fund to help continue conservation efforts.

Pure Pod

We ended our day by traveling to Birdling’s Flat. This was a beautiful dark rock beach with huge waves crashing into the red cliffs beside us. We looked around for various rocks to take home to polish. We also dark grey shells that had washed up on the shoreline. Dr. Hostetler explained that they were most likely shark egg cases. After this long day, we found ourselves excited to spend our evening in pajamas in the dorm to get to sleep fairly early. -Tory

Group Picture at Birdling's Flat