Working with people | caring for Taranaki Steve Ellis Biosecurity Manager Taranaki Regional Council New Zealand Institute of Forestry Conference, New Plymouth, New Zealand, July 2013 The Self Help Possum Control Programme 21 years and counting

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Taranaki region Population Land area ha 3% of NZ total land area

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Pest Management Strategy for Taranaki: Animals 23 animal species identified as pests Focus is on Possums –Rooks –Rabbits –Hares –Feral Cats –Feral Deer (7 species) –Feral Goats –Feral Pigs –Magpie –Mustelids (3 species) –Fish (3 species) –Argentine Ants

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Why control possums? Significant affect on New Zealand native biodiversity through competition for food and predation Feral vector for TB Impact on agricultural production and forestry

Working with people | caring for Taranaki TRC Possum Control Objectives To protect agricultural production and conservation values by reducing infestations of possums, on the ring plain through the implementation of the Self Help Possum Control Programme To promote public understanding of the “pest” characteristics, and to facilitate the voluntary control, of possums throughout the Taranaki region.

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Self Help Possum Control Programme A successful partnership between the Council and land occupiers since 1992 Council undertook initial “knock down” control to reduce possums to very low numbers and Land owners are responsible for maintaining possums at low numbers Council will undertake enforcement action if required

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Why a community approach? Limited Council capacity Individual farmer control compromised by neighbours not doing control Wide scale co-ordinated control required to be effective Community support for concept

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Good business practice model First stage “what we should do?”. Developed the concept Developed and tested the idea of the community control programme via community engagement Second stage “do others want it?” Gained support of others for the control programme. Third stage “can we do it?” Built the capacity for the Council to deliver –Professional staff –Appropriate systems and technological support

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Effective strategy framework

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Programme is only established in areas where land occupiers collectively agree to, Allow initial possum control to be undertaken Undertake ongoing possum control in accordance with the strategy, by either –Obtaining a Controlled Substance licence or –Employing a contractor to undertake work at their expense 75% of landusers covering 75% of the land area must sign before control goes ahead. Self Help Agreement

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Initial Control Undertaken by contractors on behalf of Council Is fully funded by Council Must reduce population to below a 5%RTC with no lines over 11% Control is undertaken on approximately 4,000 hectares each financial year.

Working with people | caring for Taranaki March 1994 March 1998 June 2004 June 2009 June 2013 Operations

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Operations June ,330 properties covering 238,000 ha

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Farmer Maintenance Council undertakes Facilitation of maintenance Provide at cost chemicals, traps Continued advise and education Further control (if appropriate) Inspection and enforcement

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Possum maintenance The self-help possum control programme Is achieving effective long-term possum control for properties in the programme Monitoring indicated possum numbers are being maintained by landholders at very low levels – 2.9% mean RTC The outcomes of possum control equals increased carrying capacity of pasture, enhanced indigenous biodiversity values and reduced risk of TB.

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Programme results

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Monitoring Programme –Pre control Used to determine if control is required Around 1000 lines are undertaken each year –Post control Used to determine the overall success of the programme Around 350 lines are undertaken each year Compliance –Used to ensure a Notice of Direction has been complied with –Lines undertaken as required.

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Monitoring for Compliance Properties are categorized as to the amount of habitat A – Very little habitat without possum control should only harbour low densities B – Without possum control are likely to harbour medium densities C – Without possum control are likely to harbour high densities.

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Monitoring for Compliance If non compliance is suspected Officers inspect to determine possum numbers and identify if the planned control techniques are unlikely to ensure compliance Notice of Direction under Section 122 of the Biosecurity act 1993 is issued. Trap-catch monitoring undertaken

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Default Action TRC will carryout work to below the 10% RTC at full cost recovery Estimated to be between $3,000 and $5,000 on the average property TRC Management can sign off on works up to $5,000 without going to the full Council

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Enforcement Well documented and legally robust process Clearly understood by staff Clearly communicated to land user Support from Council and Management Utilised when required.

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Maintenance Assistance and Boundary control Council funded control Targeted to support those farmers who –Are trying their best, but –Property location (adjacent to programme boundary) makes it too difficult financially for them to comply Must have a clearly defined criteria and approval process Is assistance only not control on their behalf.

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Maintenance Assistance Criteria Previous control history Land user attitude Property category Public relations impact Potential possum impact Total resources

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Tools of the trade Comprehensive database All control and monitoring recorded Links to GIS system. Policy document / SOP’s Strategy rules Detailed procedures for all possibilities Council and Management support for polices.

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Conclusion The Council’s approach has been proactive and innovative. Council has applied critical success factors of successful organisational strategy to –obtain buy-in to the programme –gain agreement on roles and responsibilities –maintain capacity to deliver.

Working with people | caring for Taranaki Questions Steve Ellis – Biosecurity Manager New Zealand Institute of Forestry Conference, New Plymouth, New Zealand, July 2013