Purpose
The purpose of this document is to act as a guideline in monitoring and managing common and known pests in the forest estate.
Background
There are a number of pests present or potentially present in the Forests. These include both plant and animal pests and these are listed in the L&D Pest Monitoring Procedures.
L&D have developed specific pest strategies for
* Stoats
* Possums
* Deer and pigs
* Wild exotic tree species
Rationale:
Animal pests in localized operational areas will be monitored by the L&D bush crew. Deer & pigs are popular hunting species and are actively controlled by staff, local hunters and contractors.
Stoats and possums will predominantly be managed by local contractors in conjunction with L&D Management, by developing periodic trapping programs and monitoring and recording kill numbers.
The purpose of the animal pest management strategy is to identify the extent of population numbers on a localized basis; consider the potential impacts; and if necessary develop and undertake more intensive control program.
Plant Pests
Wilding exotic tree species are present in small areas throughout the forest estate, Initial identification and mapping of known areas indicates approximately 83 hectares from an estate of 11916 hectares.
The wilding tree stock is predominantly Eucalyptus Species and is currently certified.
These areas were planted by the New Zealand Forest Services in the 1960's on skid sides, road line areas and as trial plots of alternative species.
L&D carried out a harvest program in 2008/2009 to remove the wilding trees (predominantly Eucalyptus species) and have continued to harvest and remove minor areas of wildings as located during day to day operations.
The known areas of wilding trees are self contained and there is no evidence of spread or expansion into the natural forest estate.
Expert advice received at the time of the harvesting program suggested the Eucalyptus species was of the non-coppicing type, however regeneration has occurred.
On that basis the Company has decided to manage the wilding areas by:
* Harvesting and removing wilding trees as located during day to day activities.
* Monitoring the previously harvested areas to ensure containment of the wildings remains within the original areas
* The Company will consider options to harvest the regenerating wilding species on a periodic ongoing basis.
PEST MANAGEMENT ELEMENTS
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Stoat
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Initial Specification Date
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1st May 2013
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Objective(s)
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1. To determine whether there is a significant stoat population in the forest.
2. If so, to implement controls and reduce numbers.
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Current Scope
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To gauge the level of stoat populations in and near operational areas.
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Location
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Operational forest area
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Method
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Trapping using tunnel traps and bait. Location of traps mapped and results recorded.
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Rationale
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Experimental
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Personnel
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L&D staff or appointed contractors
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Requirements
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Fresh egg baits.
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Commencement
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AT commencement and during new forest operations
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Frequency of effort
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Traps checked, reset, re-baited periodically
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Monitoring
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Kills recorded against individual traps in GIS.
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Reporting
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Results summarised annually (FYE) and reported in website monitoring conditions
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Wilding Species
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Initial Specification Date
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1st May 2013
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Objective(s)
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1. To identify wilding exotic trees species.
2. To progressively remove those exotic wildings.
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Current Scope
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To identify, fell and remove exotic wilding trees from known locations and operational areas.
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Location
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Throughout Longwood & Rowallan Forest Estate
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Management Method
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Map, monitor, fell and extract..
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Rationale
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Removal of wilding species
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Personnel
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L&D Bushcrew and appointed contractors
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Equipment /
Requirements
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Conventional ground-based extraction & transport.
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Commencement
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May 2007 & on-going
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Frequency
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NA
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Monitoring
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Monitor wilding regeneration
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Reporting
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Annual (FYE) summary of volumes removed
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Possum
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Initial Specification Date
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1st May 2013
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Objective(s)
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1. To determine whether there is a significant possum population in the forest.
2. If so, to implement controls and reduce numbers.
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Current Scope
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To gauge the level of possum populations in and near operational areas.
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Location
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Opperational forest area
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Method
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Trapping or shooting. Location of traps mapped and results recorded.
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Rationale
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Experimental
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Personnel
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L&D staff and intense by contractors
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Equipment/Requirements
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Traps and flour bate
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Commencement
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At commencement and during new forest operations
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Frequency
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Casual by staff and intense by contractors
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Monitoring
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Kills recorded against trap lines in GIS.
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Reporting
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Results summarised annually (FYE) and reported in website monitoring conditions.
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Deer and Pig
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Initial Specification Date
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1st May 2013
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Objective(s)
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1. To determine whether there is a significant possum population in the forest.
2. If so, to implement controls and reduce numbers.
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Current Scope
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To gauge the level of deer and pig populations in and near operational and previously harvested areas.
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Location
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L&D transitional estate area
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Method
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Hunting
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Rationale
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To monitor and encourage local hunting via the use of the permit system
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Personnel
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L&D staff / local hunters & clubs
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Equipment/Requirements
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N/A
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Commencement
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At commencement and during new forest operations and by monitoring previously harvested areas
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Frequency
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Casual and ongoing
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Monitoring
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Via permit system and community / club contact
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Reporting
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Results summarised annually (FYE) and reported in website monitoring conditions.
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