Korowai O Te Ngahere: Sustainable Hapū and Community Led Biodiversity Care
This is a collaborative discussion document created by Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa, Eco-Land Ltd, Te Korowai Arahi Charitable Trust and The Far North Resilient Communities Charitable Trust. In it we place emphasis on sustainable, humane and ethical approaches that do not leave residual contamination in the environment or wildlife. These approaches allow for the recovery of natural resources, support local livelihoods and help fund biodiversity care. Read the full document here.
The Vision
“The purpose of this initiative is to restore and protect New Zealand’s biodiversity in a way that respects the land, the water and all our taonga species, including people. It takes a holistic approach towards forest ecosystems and considers relationships between all flora and fauna important. This means working with methods that do not compromise the environment with unintended consequences, and in a way that allows communities to find their place and thrive within an integrated holistic framework.”
“Sensitive ecological areas need continuous care with observation, monitoring, data collection and predator control. Through developing comprehensive and sustainable biodiversity plans based on matauranga Maori, traditional and local knowledge and science; and by using humane methods carried out by experienced professionals, we can ensure plant and wildlife in our forests and other landscapes have the best chance to thrive, and that the integrity of water, soil and total ecological health are maintained.”
Humane and Non-Toxic Methods
“It’s important that we take a humane approach to managing wildlife no matter how much of a ‘pest’ they may seem. We need respectful management where no residual toxins, pollutants or rubbish are left in the environment to harm us or other wildlife.”
“The most humane methods are quick, clean and respect the value of the animals’ life, allowing for recovery of meat and fur, or their return to the land where they can break down to feed other lifeforms in the food chain including native species.”
Secondary and Sublethal Poisoning …in the Food Chain
“Poisons used in Conservation are making their way through the food chain and having negative impacts on non-target species, including vulnerable native species that we are trying to protect. We don’t know the true long term impact poisons are having on the environment or the genetics of the people and wildlife exposed to them. The use of toxins puts people who harvest rongoā, meat and fur at risk, and prevents others from engaging in conservation work. In the realm of food safety and ethics, the Precautionary Principle as a guiding norm states “if a product, an action or a policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, protective action should be supported before there is complete scientific proof of a risk.” (Olsen and Motarjemi, 2014). (1)“
Trapping and Ground Control
“Trapping, observation, monitoring and capturing of reliable data on populations, health, ecological and other issues etc. is best carried out by real people working on the ground who have specialised knowledge of the environment and species living there. Real people working on the ground develop observational skill sets over time spent in forest environments. They become highly valuable assets for managing healthy ecosystems. Their creative problem solving skills cannot be replicated by aerial operations, irregular trapping or baiting programs, where genuine data is lost or compromised.”
Social Enterprise
“There are many opportunities for livelihoods that protect and enhance biodiversity, within a wider framework that restores our environment now and into the future. Supporting people into such mahi is critical for our taiao.”
“Biodiversity management can provide valuable resources whilst ensuring steady progress towards fully functional forests. Social enterprises based on value added products made with abundant resources can develop in these areas:”
- Pet Food Products
- Tannery for Skin and Hide Processing
- Leather and Textile Processing
- Biodiversity Based Tourism
- Rongoā and Carving
Read the full document here.