Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has announced a four-year funding boost of $9.7 million to help manage wild goats and deer in New Zealand’s national parks. <\/p>\n
The funding from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy will provide support for New Zealand’s fragile ecosystems and reduce browsing pressure from the wild animals. <\/p>\n
The areas to be targeted by this conservation boost include Whanganui National Park, Wait\u014dtara Conservation Area, Kahurangi, Nelson Lakes, Westland Te Tai Poutini, and Fiordland national Parks. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen left unchecked, wild goats<\/a> and deer can cause significant damage<\/a> and impact productivity for farmers and other land managers,\u201d Potaka said. <\/p>\n He said the programme would increase “monitoring, surveillance and operational capability” of goat and deer.<\/p>\n Potaka said the decisions was made with the future in mind, to “reduce reinvasion risk, and build the knowledge and partnerships needed to deliver long-term biodiversity outcomes”.<\/p>\n The scheme would support efforts to control and monitor animal numbers; protect goat- or deer-free areas; and eliminate populations from some parts of national parks.<\/p>\n Federated Farmers pest management spokesperson Richard Dawkins said the scheme was, “exactly the kind of work the International Visitor Levy should be funding”.<\/p>\n ‘Totally out of control and breeding fast’<\/p>\n He said a recent survey from Federated Farmers estimated pests cost farmers around $466 million a year through direct costs and lost production. <\/p>\n It estimated that on average, farmers are spending $6.18 per hectare on pest control each year, which is up 13% in two years. <\/p>\n