The Area
Why here?
When ZIP first set out to find a landscape in which to deliver a groundbreaking and ambitious predator elimination effort, they were looking for two things: a landscape with natural features that would make the area easier to defend, and a supportive community whose goals for the land aligned with those of the project. Guided by Te Rūnunga o Makaawhio, the Perth Valley was selected for an initial trial site before blossoming into the Predator Free South Westland project.
The boundaries of the project area are strategically chosen to slow incursion by possums, ship rats and stoats. The altitude of the mountains and glaciers in the east stretches higher than the habitat of target predators, allowing them to act as effective natural barriers. ZIP research has found that large, fast-flowing rivers limit crossings of rats and possums. The Whataroa and Waiho rivers run along the northern and southern boundaries, all the way from the mountains to the sea. These strong boundaries will help to protect the gains made by the project long into the future, without the need for a fence.
South Westland has been touted as the ‘conservation capital of New Zealand’, with a local community deeply connected to their natural environment. There’s a plethora of grass-roots conservation efforts, which operate alongside the well-established DOC team based in Franz Josef. The area hosts a generous handful of top-notch nature-tourism operators, hosting a range of tours celebrating the many taonga species that call the region home.
Map Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Supported By
