BPCT has partnered with Primary ITO since 2021 to provide formal pest training for their staff. Twenty-two employees have completed the New Zealand Certificate in Pest Operations (Level 3).
This training enables our staff to deliver on our Ecological Vision – helping native biodiversity thrive. Our Pest Free Banks Peninsula programme is integral to achieving this outcome.
Significant progress has been made, with feral goats and pigs eliminated from 90,000 hectares. Possum-free status has been achieved across 5,000 hectares including Akaroa township and surrounds, with ~5,000 hectares being actively treated. Ferrets have been removed from the 5,500-hectare shingle spit of Kaitorete at the foot of Banks Peninsula, with feral cats, stoats and weasels on the radar later this year.
Work is underway with landowners to control non-native plant species that smother native vegetation, outcompete regenerating forest and affect ecosystems.
Ensuring our Pest Free rangers are equipped with the best knowledge, skills and tools is key to achieving our goals and we’re grateful for the support we receive from Primary ITO.
Read the full article here: https://www.primaryito.ac.nz/news/pest-training-underpins-conservation-effort-on-banks-peninsula