Seed funding provides opportunity for expansion
Predator Free Dunedin has received seed funding from Predator Free 2050 to scope an expansion that would accelerate predator control across Dunedin. It comes as part of the government’s Covid-19 recovery fund to create jobs and improve outcomes for biodiversity.
If successful, the expansion would strengthen efforts by Predator Free Dunedin, delivery partners and members to create a biodiversity rich city by achieving predator free status by 2050.
On the Otago Peninsula, it would make the eradication of stoats possible - building on existing community efforts to control mustelids. This means further protection for threatened and vulnerable taonga species and the potential reintroduction species. It is an exciting opportunity that perfectly complements more than a decade of mahi by the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group to eradicate possums on the peninsula.
To the North of Dunedin (around West Harbour and Mount Cargill), possum populations would be reduced to zero across more than 12,000 hectares — strengthening the huge operations by OSPRI and the Halo Project to reduce possum numbers over the past six years. Possum control would also expand across Chain Hills, Flagstaff, Swampy Summit and the Silver Peaks, using the Taieri River as a natural barrier to limit reinvasions and protecting some of the largest conservation areas in Dunedin. Innovation would also be a focus with the Halo Project testing innovative new technology for predator trapping and monitoring across a range of habitats.
A map showing Predator Free Dunedin’s proposed expansion.
Community-led predator control in backyards and reserves across Dunedin’s urban and city areas will connect the three projects, providing a wild pathway of health habitat for native taonga to move safely from the Halo, through the City and to the Peninsula. Building public support for predator control is critical to the expansion’s success. Increased community engagement and communications in Dunedin’s most populated area will get the community behind our collective vision for a Predator Free Dunedin.
This initial funding has created two new jobs to scope the technical requirements of the expansion and secure the co-funding needed to make this exciting opportunity a reality.
Kimberley Collins joins the Predator Free Dunedin team as the Communications and Engagement Lead. She brings a wealth experience working with conservation organisations in New Zealand and abroad to build support for predator control and conservation actions. She will also support the need to secure co-funding to progress this expansion proposal.
More information
Predator Free Dunedin is a conservation collective of 22 organisations working collaboratively to protect native biodiversity and strengthen communities. Together, our members share a vision to get rid of possums, rats and stoats from Dunedin's urban and rural landscapes by 2050.
Predator Free 2050 Limited is the principal funder for Predator Free Dunedin having committed $4.3 million over 5 years from 2019 to 2023. This crown-owned company provides co-funding for projects that will help achieve the wider predator-free vision.
In 2020, an opportunity to expand our ambition came as part of the government's response to COVID-19. Our community pitched a range of new projects that will expand and accelerate existing work. In response, Predator Free 2050 has pledged an additional $3.51 million over three years if we are able to secure co-funding. If successful, the expansion would strengthen efforts by our delivery partners and members to create a biodiversity rich city by achieving predator free status by 2050.
Additional information on national funding for Predator Free projects is available in a media release from Predator Free 2050 Limited.