Banks Peninsula Biodiversity Workshop

Yesterday marked the first gathering of Banks Peninsula ecologists, rangers and landowners to discuss the research being done on the peninsula and the implementation of conservation strategies to aid regeneration of native forest and support native wildlife. As I have been rather preoccupied with my own work of late, it was fantastic to get a broad overview of what else is going in the area.

Hugh Wilson, the local ecological celebrity kicked off the day highlighting the massive amount of deforestation that have gone on over the peninsula since our ancestors settled. Although fully aware that the landscape contains very fragmented remnants of forest, the extent to which it had been diminished was rather shocking!
The rest of the day boasted some very interesting talks on monitoring lizards, bird life (the reintroduction of the Tui), plants and arthropods (a group including the insects, spiders and slugs etc.)

There was also a big plant giveaway to promote the climate change day on the 24th October. If you have a chance, check it out on 350.org ('350 is the most important number in the world--it's what scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere'.)


Good day.