Puketi forest enviroMate100 possum control

EnviroMate100 (a automated bait station) is being used in the centre of Puketi Forest to provide data "of scale" displaying that new generation possum control can be partially self funding through fur recovery whilst maintain forests with very low declining possum populations .

We will provide continuous control of possums within approximately 1200ha using enviroMate100 bait stations, cyanide toxin and traps. It is expected the impact of this possum control will filter outwards to reduce possum population over approximately 3000ha.

This operation initially requires 1 single visit every 14 days to each individual enviroMate100 to reload it with lure and toxin. At this time possum fur can be recovered.

Smaller scale operations suggest each externally placed bait station site will maintain catching 1 possum on average every 14 days whilst the internal area will become possum absent. It is hoped at the larger scale the internal areas will also eventually become depleted of possum residents.

A independent possum control contractor using enviroMate100 was successful in gaining 6% 5.3% and 4.7% BMI monitor solely with lure to pull possums over extended distances to be caught in leg hold traps, this was a TB free control funded operation. 15% BMI is what DOC target to enable biodiversity gains.

Our hope is to provide the validation and operation model for working in dense forest needed to update outdated trapping information of which suggest that trapping and ground control work is more costly and less effective than aerial delivery for the sustainable maintenance of conservation values. The promotion that fur recovery can now meet environmental requirements currently set by DOC whilst creating jobs in rural environments.

We wish to show case a different method of control and management system to achieve the desired outcome with no non target deaths.

Please note the resident possum population in this forest is presently uneconomic for a living wage to be made from fur collection using conventional trapping or poison application. DoC have declined development assistance since 2014. It was suggested we need to validate enviroMate100 technology at landscape scale, this has now been done by an independent contractor being successfully monitored in three separate contracts.

We seek partnerships with those who participate in fur recovery as they have the skilled, self motivated hardened workers to conduct large scale self directed predator control. We wish to maintain a living wage for these people.

Aerial application of toxin (once only application) currently costs around $38 - $56 per ha. We are offering to maintain a similar level of possum control but across the entire"year" for $40-50 per ha and ask you to contribute directly to provide this control.

It is expected fur recovered will finance the initial deployment of enviroMate100 into the forest but not the continued protection against reinvasion. We could also target rats and stoats as they are drawn to enviroMate100 activity. At present we are not enabled by DoC to use rat baits and would need take traps to site.

Another way to look at the cost structure is it costs $10 to carry each enviroMate100 onto site and $10.00 to remove again. It works for 14 days delivers toxins on the last day killing those possums that are visiting.

Every additional visit to reload at the same site costs $5.00- $10 per visit dependant on what goes in to it.

We wish to deploy and maintain 250-300 enviroMate100 in this operation. To do this with your help we require $1250.00 -$1900 every 14 days to maintain each site ($1-2 per ha per visit approx.)

Every additional $5 we receive we can return to service 1 enviroMate100 for another 14 day cycle of control against reinvasion. Sporadic fur recovery around the boundary will help fund the rest.

Eco-land will supply enviroMate100 and implement the work. Eco-land will recover fur to cover enviromate100 deployment and removal costs

We note Govt funding aimed at "alternative tools" to aerial control is not currently filtering to implementation efforts in the field. We have a proven successful system ready to operate but have not been enabled. We need your help to make this happen!

https://predatorfreenz.org/enviromate100-bait-station/

Use of funds

$130 maintains one enviroMate100 automated bait station onsite in Puketi for 1 year. This includes labour, lures, battery, travel and toxin. One single enviroMate100 controls 4ha for possums.

Other page links

• www.ecoland.co.nz