Operational Report for Possum, Ship rat Control in the ...€¦ · Toxic loading 1.5 g/kg Bait...

Status of Op Report: Verified Source: Pestlink

Operational Report for Possum, Ship rat Control in the Tawarau Forest

08 Jul 2010 - 15 Sep 2010 3/02/2011 Department of Conservation Maniapoto

Contents

1. Operation Summary..................................................................................................22. Introduction...............................................................................................................4

2.1 TREATMENT AREA...........................................................................................42.2 MANAGEMENT HISTORY ..............................................................................7

3 Outcomes and Targets ..............................................................................................73.1 CONSERVATION OUTCOMES .......................................................................73.2 TARGETS ............................................................................................................7

3.2.1 Result Targets ...............................................................................................73.2.2 Outcome Targets..........................................................................................7

4 Consultation, Consents & Notifications...................................................................74.1 CONSULTATION ..............................................................................................74.2 CONSENTS.........................................................................................................84.3 NOTIFICATION ................................................................................................8

5 Methods......................................................................................................................95.1 TARGET SPECIES ..............................................................................................95.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS .......................................................................19

5.2.1 Effects on Non-Target Species ..................................................................195.2.2 Effects on Soil and Water Quality .............................................................205.2.3 Effects on Ecosystems................................................................................205.2.4 Effects on Human Health ..........................................................................20

6 Monitoring Results and Outcomes ........................................................................216.1 RESULT MONITORING - TARGET SPECIES...............................................216.2 RESULT MONITORING - ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS..........................216.3 OUTCOME MONITORING............................................................................22

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1. Operation Summary Operation Name Possum, Ship rat Control in Tawarau Forest Operation Date 08 Jul 2010 - 15 Sep 2010 Area Office Conservancy: Waikato Maniapoto Pestlink Reference 1011MPT02

Treatment Area Size (ha) Tawarau Forest 8000.00 Conservation Unit Name(s) Conservation Unit Number(s) Marokopa Falls Scenic Reserve R16034 Taumatatawhero Ecological Area R16045 Conservation Area - Tawarau R16046 Conservation Area - Tawarau R16047 Conservation Area - Tawarau R16048 Conservation Area - Tawarau R16050 Conservation Area - Waipuna R16051 Conservation Area - Tawarau R16053 Waipuna Scenic Reserve R16058 Conservation Area - Whareorino R17001 Treatment Block Details Treatment Blocks Size (ha) Tawarau Aerial Control 7000.00 Tawarau Ground Control (Scott Block) 195.00 Tawarau Ground Control (Phillips Block) 31.00 Tawarau Ground Control (Miln Block) 108.00 Tawarau Ground Control (Jones Block) 54.00

Contractor Name EcoFX, Ltd.

Treatment Dates Start Completion Tawarau Aerial Control 08 Jul 2010 10 Aug 2010 Tawarau Ground Control (Jones Block) 14 Sep 2010 15 Sep 2010

Tawarau Ground Control (Miln Block) 27 Aug 2010 29 Aug 2010 Tawarau Ground Control (Phillips Block) 25 Aug 2010 28 Aug 2010

Tawarau Ground Control (Scott Block) 23 Aug 2010 03 Sep 2010

Pestlink Ref: 1011MPT02 Date Printed: 04 Feb 2011

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Target Pest Details

Treatment Blocks Target Pests Control Method Name

Tawarau Aerial Control

Possum, Ship rat Pesticide Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Tawarau Aerial Control Block-(1)

Tawarau Ground Control (Jones Block)

Possum Pesticide Bait Station

Pesticide - Bait Station in Tawarau Ground Control (Jones Block)-(1)

Tawarau Ground Control (Miln Block)


Pesticide - Bait Station in Tawarau Ground Control (Miln Block)-(2)

Tawarau Ground Control (Phillips Block)

Ship rat Pesticide Bait Station

Pesticide - Bait Station in Tawarau Ground Control (Phillips Block)-(3)




Tawarau Ground Control (Scott Block)

Ship rat Pesticide Bait Station

Pesticide - Bait Station in Tawarau Ground Control (Scott Block)-(5)




Conservation Outcome(s)

To protect the lowland podocarp plant and animal communities in the Tawarau Forest from damage by browsing and predation.

Result Target(s) Treatment Area/Block What we got • Tawarau Aerial

Control Block: 3% or lower average possum trap catch index, with no individual line to contain more than three

Tawarau Aerial Control 0%


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possums

Outcome Targets What we got FBI monitoring is an ongoing programme at Tawarau. No monitoring has taken place since this operation. Previously, monitoring has shown a positive result after possum control operations.

• To increase foliar cover of monitored tree species (mangeao, mahoe and kamahi)

2. Introduction 2.1 TREATMENT AREA

Non-target species Common Name Scientific Name Cattle Bos taurus D og Canis familiaris Target benefit species Common Name Scientific Name mahoe Melicytus ramiflorus kamahi Weinmannia racemosa - Litsea calicaris Threatened species Common Name Scientific Name - Dactylanthus taylorii Geographical location The Tawarau Forest is situated 25 km West of Te Kuiti. TREATMENT BLOCK DETAILS:

Treatment block Tawarau Aerial Control

Vegetation type Tawarau Forest is the largest area of lowland forest over a karst landscape in the North Island and contains cool climate podocarp forest communities and open frost flat vegetation


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typical of higher elevations (Gansell, 2008). Bioclimatic zone lowland Climate characteristics: Rainfall 0 mm Temperature: Average Summer - Average Winter - Snow level - m Altitude 0 - 500m m

Community and Iwi interests Tramping, hunting, caving

Historic sites Puketutu Pa site

Treatment block Tawarau Ground Control (Scott Block)

Vegetation type

Tawarau Forest is the largest area of lowland forest over a karst landscape in the North Island and contains cool climate podocarp forest communities and open frost flat vegetation typical of higher elevations (Gansell, 2008).

Bioclimatic zone lowland Climate characteristics: Rainfall - mm Temperature: Average Summer - Average Winter - Snow level - m Altitude 0 - 340 m m

Community and Iwi interests -

Historic sites -

Treatment block Tawarau Ground Control (Miln Block)

Vegetation type


Bioclimatic zone lowland Climate characteristics: Rainfall - mm Temperature: Average Summer - Average Winter - Snow level - m


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Altitude 0 - 460 m m


Historic sites -

Treatment block Tawarau Ground Control (Jones Block)

Vegetation type


Bioclimatic zone lowland Climate characteristics: Rainfall - mm Temperature: Average Summer - Average Winter - Snow level - m Altitude 0 - 300m m


Historic sites -

Treatment block Tawarau Ground Control (Phillips Block)

Vegetation type


Bioclimatic zone lowland Climate characteristics: Rainfall - mm Temperature: Average Summer - Average Winter - Snow level - m Altitude 0 - 250 m m


Historic sites -


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2.2 MANAGEMENT HISTORY Management history was not chosen to be shown in this operational report. This history is, however, available via Pestlink

3 Outcomes and Targets 3.1 CONSERVATION OUTCOMES To protect the lowland podocarp plant and animal communities in the Tawarau Forest from damage by browsing and predation. 3.2 TARGETS 3.2.1 Result Targets The result targets for the treatment area were:

• Tawarau Aerial Control Block: 3% or lower average possum trap catch index, with no individual line to contain more than three possums

3.2.2 Outcome Targets The outcome targets for the treatment area were:

• To increase foliar cover of monitored tree species (mangeao, mahoe and kamahi)

4 Consultation, Consents & Notifications 4.1 CONSULTATION The consultation process began in September 2009 with a letter to iwi, and then to neighbours and stakeholders informing them that pest control at Tawarau was being considered and that expressions of interest were going to be sought for any method of pest control. Neighbours with contiguous forest land were approached with a view to including these areas within the operation. Most agreed, with some specifying that they would prefer alternatives to 1080.

Expressions of interest were called for in November 2009 for possum control at Tawarau. A tender process followed and EcoFX was awarded the contract, proposing an aerial 1080 operation (with traps and cyanide for areas of private land


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where these methods were requested). Landowners were then informed of the successful tenderer and method.

A public meeting was organised by interested parties (opposed to the use of 1080) in March 2010 at the Marokopa Community Hall, including a viewing of the Graf Brothers' DVD. DOC and EcoFX staff were in attendance.

DOC staff had initial discussions with most adjacent and included landowners. EcoFX were responsible for ongoing consultation from May 2010 and throughout the operational phase with assistance from DOC. DOC consultation notes are held on file. Consultation outcomes Efforts made during consultation ensured that the stirring up of opposition locally never built up momentum. The operation went ahead successfully with no protest action. Lessons learned Start communicating with the target audience early and sustain this throughout the operation. 4.2 CONSENTS Consent Consent date File Reference Permission ID DOC permission 04/06/2010 NHT-02-05-28 DOCDM-585788 M OH permission 01/07/2010 NHT-02-05-28 MOH 2010VTA-114 Lessons learned Apply for MOH permission early and check closely when received to ensure that all conditions are workable. Note that EcoFx held a resource consent from Environment Waikato for aerial use of 1080 4.3 NOTIFICATION Notification was the responsibility of the contractor, EcoFX. Throughout the operation the EcoFX Operational Controller worked with neighbouring landowners and iwi and ensured that they were adequately informed of progress. In addition, local police, schools, medical providers, vets, fire service, ambulance staff and hunting and tramping clubs were notified with a letter and fact sheet. A public notice of the operation was published in the Waitomo News and the Waikato Times on 3 June 2010. This was re-published 3 August 2010 due to delays related to adverse weather. Lessons learned The process of notification ran smoothly, with no serious issues reported.


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5 Methods 5.1 TARGET SPECIES

Treatment Block Tawarau Aerial Control Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in

Tawarau Aerial Control Block-(1)

Possum Ship rat

Target Pest Species

Treatment Block Control Method Name

Tawarau Aerial Control Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Tawarau Aerial Control Block-(1)

PossumShip rat

Trade name of pesticide 0.15% 1080 Pellets #7 Name of pesticide Sodium fluoroacetate Type of bait Cereal pellet Toxic loading 1.5 g/kg Bait quality sampling Conducted

Bait Details Pre-feed Toxic Bait type Cereal pellet Cereal pellet Lure/mask/deterrent Cinnamon Cinnamon Lure/mask/deterrent 0.15% 0.30% Dye None Green Individual Bait

eight W 12.0g 12.0g Sowing Rate Details Pre-feed Toxic

Date Rate(kg/ha) Wind Speed Direction

0 8/07/2010 2.00 Unknown Nil

Date Rate(kg/ha) Wind Speed Direction

1 0/08/2010 2.00 Light South Time between pre-feed and toxic 33

End of Caution Period Date 10/12/2010


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Aircraft type Hughes 500D or E Squirrel AS 350

Number of Aircraft 2

Sowing gear details

Description Capacity Underslung, motorised bucket with maximum swath width of 120 metres and a

inimum spread of 30 metres. m

999 kg

Type of navigational uidance system used g

DGPS, unknown make/model

L oading Method HeliA1 automatic loader

Complaints and Incidents None. Other Details about this method Contractor used was EcoFX, who sub-contracted Heli A1 to undertake bait delivery. Bait loading by Heli A1 was very mechanised, making it efficient and less hazardous for operators. Deviations from planned operation This operation was planned to be completed by 30 June 2010, but very unsettled weather in late May and June meant it did no go ahead until August, resulting in a considerable impact on finances for both years. Lessons Learned Get the contracts sorted out early so that all work can be done to have the operation completed well before June in case of long periods of bad weather, common over this period. This would require higher level commitment to operational budgets for outyears, so that tendering and community consultation can be carried out in good faith with assurances that the operation will be funded the following financial year. Another much smaller DOC operation was given priority over the Tawarau operation by the contractor - it would have been less exposed o prioritise the larger operation first. t

Treatment Block Tawarau Ground Control (Scott Block) Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Bait Station Pesticide - Bait Station

in Tawarau Ground Control (Scott Block)-

Ship rat


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(5) Pesticide - Bait Station Pesticide - Bait Station

in Tawarau Ground Control (Scott Block)-(6)

Possum

Treatment Block Control Method Name Target Pest Species


Pesticide - Bait Station


Ship rat

Trade name of pesticide RatAbate Paste

Name of pesticide Diphacinone Type of bait Paste Toxic loading 0.05 g/kg Bait quality sampling Not Conducted

Bait Details Pre-feed Toxic Bait type - Paste Lure/mask/deterrent - None Lure/mask/deterrent 0.00% 0.00% Dye - Green Individual Bait

eight W - g 20.0g Treatment details Pre-feed Toxic Dates 23/08/2010 No. of fills 0 1 How long to fill 0.00 12.00 Average fill frequency 0 0 Quantity when filled 0 60 Date Bait Removed -

End of Caution Period Date -

Pattern of bait stations Contour Spur/ridge

Bait station spacing 300m between lines X 20m between bait stations


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Total number of bait stations 636 Bait station density 3.2615 B ait station type Striker

Other Details about this method Ratabate Strikers. This block was treated on an input only basis and was not performance measured. Deviations from planned operation The usual method used by EcoFX of using Feracol and Feratox to prevent rat interference with possum baits was not used due to a world-wide shortage of cholecalciferol. Lessons Learned Rat interference of Feratox baits is a significant problem when rat populations are high. This method, commonly used

y contractors, should be investigated for use within DOC. b





Possum

Trade name of pesticide Feratox (incl. Strikers) Name of pesticide Cyanide

Type of bait Encapsulated pellet with prefeed paste

Toxic loading 475 g/kg Bait quality sampling Not Conducted

Bait Details Pre-feed Toxic

Bait type - Encapsulated pellet with prefeed paste

Lure/mask/deterrent - None Lure/mask/deterrent 0.00% 0.00% Dye - Green Individual Bait Weight - g 12.0g


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Treatment details Pre-feed Toxic Dates 23/08/2010 No. of fills 0 1 How long to fill 0.00 12.00 Average fill frequency 0 0 Quantity when filled 0 60 Date Bait Removed -




Total number of bait stations 636 Bait station density 3.2615 B ait station type Bait bags - paper

Other Details about this method Feratox Biobags. This block was treated on an input only basis and was not performance measured. Deviations from planned operation None Lessons Learned N one

Treatment Block Tawarau Ground Control (Phillips Block)

Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Bait Station Pesticide - Bait Station

in Tawarau Ground Control (Phillips Block)-(3)

Ship rat

Pesticide - Bait Station Pesticide - Bait Station in Tawarau Ground Control (Phillips

Possum


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Block)-(4)





Ship rat

Trade name of pesticide RatAbate Paste Name of pesticide Diphacinone Type of bait Paste Toxic loading 0.05 g/kg Bait quality sampling Not Conducted

Bait Details Pre-feed Toxic Bait type - Paste Lure/mask/deterrent - None Lure/mask/deterrent 0.00% 0.00% Dye - Green Individual Bait Weight - g 20.0g Treatment details Pre-feed Toxic Dates 25/08/2010 No. of fills 0 1 How long to fill 0.00 4.00 Average fill frequency 0 0 Quantity when filled 0 60 Date Bait Removed -




Total number of bait stations 128 Bait station density 4.1290 B ait station type Striker


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Other Details about this method Ratabate Strikers. This block was treated on an input only basis and was not performance measured. Deviations from planned operation The usual method used by EcoFX of using Feracol and Feratox to prevent rat interference with possum baits was not used due to a world-wide shortage of cholecalciferol. Lessons Learned Rat interference of Feratox baits is a significant problem when rat populations are high. This method, commonly used

y contractors, should be investigated for use within DOC. b





Possum






Lure/mask/deterrent - None Lure/mask/deterrent 0.00% 0.00% Dye - Green Individual Bait

eight W - g 12.0g Treatment details Pre-feed Toxic


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Dates 25/08/2010 No. of fills 0 1 How long to fill 0.00 4.00 Average fill frequency 0 0 Quantity when filled 0 36 Date Bait Removed -





Other Details about this method Feratox Biobags. This block was treated on an input only basis and was not performance measured. Deviations from planned operation None Lessons Learned N one

Treatment Block Tawarau Ground Control (Miln Block) Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Bait Station Pesticide - Bait Station

in Tawarau Ground Control (Miln Block)-(2)

Possum


Tawarau Ground Control (Miln Block)


Pesticide - Bait Station in Tawarau Ground Control (Miln Block)-(2)

Possum

Trade name of pesticide Feratox (incl. Strikers)


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Name of pesticide Cyanide





Lure/mask/deterrent - None Lure/mask/deterrent 0.00% 0.00% Dye - Green Individual Bait Weight - g 12.0g Treatment details Pre-feed Toxic Dates 27/08/2010 No. of fills 0 1 How long to fill 0.00 3.00 Average fill frequency 0 0 Quantity when filled 0 36 Date Bait Removed -





Other Details about this method Feratox Biobags. This block was treated on an input only basis and was not performance measured. Deviations from planned operation The possibility of control of this block using aerial 1080 was discussed and the block was prefed. This method had to be abandoned as the landowner indicated that cattle may have


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got into the block due to inadequate fencing. The owner attempted to remove the cattle but advised that one could not be found and was still in the block. The owner agreed to allow 1080 in 'mutant' bait stations, but then changed their mind. Lessons Learned These stock were deliberately in private bush overwintering, not conservation land. It is possible that a large staff team put into looking for cattle in this block could have saved the nvestment in prefeeding this block for 1080. i

Treatment Block Tawarau Ground Control (Jones Block) Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Bait Station Pesticide - Bait Station

in Tawarau Ground Control (Jones Block)-(1)

Possum


Tawarau Ground Control (Jones Block)


Pesticide - Bait Station in Tawarau Ground Control (Jones Block)-(1)

Possum






Lure/mask/deterrent - None Lure/mask/deterrent 0.00% 0.00% Dye - Green


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Individual Bait Weight - g 12.0g Treatment details Pre-feed Toxic Dates 14/09/2010 No. of fills 0 1 How long to fill 0.00 2.00 Average fill frequency 0 0 Quantity when filled 0 36 Date Bait Removed -


Pattern of bait stations Spur/ridge Contour



Other Details about this method Feratox Biobags. This block was treated on an input only basis and was not performance measured. Deviations from planned operation None Lessons Learned Difficult landowner. Alternately gave permission for pest control on his property then refused access for contractors. Experience in dealing with this person by staff of EcoFX and DOC finally allowed treatment to go ahead on this block. This landowner has always been like this to deal with and

are needed in approaches. c

5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 5.2.1 Effects on Non-Target Species Non-target species could be poisoned by consuming bait or poisoned carcasses.


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Performance standard(s) Followed ? Monitored ?

50m buffer on all boundaries Yes Yes Reports of wandering stock followed up, exclusions placed on areas that could not be guaranteed to be free of stock

Yes Yes

D og owners offered muzzles for their animals Yes N/A Effectiveness of performance standards No poisoning of non-target species have been reported. Bykill of non-target species None. 5.2.2 Effects on Soil and Water Quality Concerns were expressed by a downstream landowner about the possible downstream contamination of land in the Marokopa River catchment. Studies have shown that any 1080 residues in water are generally short-term and localised. Performance standard(s) Followed ? Monitored ? S ee Performance Standard Sheet for Pesticide Use #1 Yes No Effectiveness of performance standards No monitoring by DOC has taken place. A local organic farmer with land several kms downstream of the operational area was concerned that her land had been contaminated by floodwaters in earlier operations. With assistance from EcoFX a bait was placed in a cage in an area of Tawarau Forest off Appletree Rd. She undertook, at her own expense, analysis of the soil before and after the operation. The study was not considered rigorous by us but provided interest for her. No information has been received about the post-treatment sample and at this stage she appears to have lost interest. 5.2.3 Effects on Ecosystems - Effects on Ecosystems Not Applicable 5.2.4 Effects on Human Health Workers could be poisoned by poor handling of bait.

Performance standard(s) Followed ?

Monitored ?

All workers will be CSL holders or supervised by CSL holders Yes No

P erformance Standards for Pesticide Use #1 Yes No Effectiveness of performance standards In order to obtain a Controlled Substances Licence (CSL) training in safe handling of pesticides is undertaken. As all workers involved in the operation will be CSL holders or under the immediate supervision of a CSL holder, it would be expected


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that they would be aware of safety aspects, such as PPE. No incidents reported.

6 Monitoring Results and Outcomes6.1 RESULT MONITORING - TARGET SPECIES Result target(s) Tawarau Aerial Control Block: 3% or lower average possum trap catch index, with

o individual line to contain more than three possums n 6.1.1 Target Species Monitoring Method:

Residual trap-catch index (RTCI)

Species monitored Possum - Trichosurus vulpecula in Tawarau Aerial Control

Monitor method details Only the aerial control block was monitored as per NPCA Protocol dated July 2008. Raised sets were not required.

Deviations Thirty five lines were planned for this block. Three spare lines were provided and the contractor had reason to use all three. In addition, two lines were reported by the contractor to be inaccessible and had to be abandoned, giving a total of thirty three lines monitored. Target pest result details Pre During/Post Monitoring dates March - April 2009 24 - 28 August 2010 Results 16.7% 0% Result target met? Yes Lessons Learned In future operations, having an excess of spare lines would prevent a shortage. 6.2 RESULT MONITORING - ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 6.2.1 Non Target Species

Monitoring of: Flightline map Monitor Method details

DOC staff obtained a copy of this map immediately after the operation ended to monitor for errors. Deviations

None. Monitoring dates 10 August 2010 Results No errors resulting in bait being misapplied


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were detected from flightlines. Lessons Learned

Confirming flightlines is an important step in ensuring bait is not misapplied. Monitoring of: The presence of stock in the operational area Monitor Method details

All reports of stock in the treatment area before the operation were verified by staff on the ground. Where it could not be confirmed that stock were not present, the area was excluded from aerial control. Deviations

N/A Monitoring dates 2009 - 2010 Results Cattle reported in the area between the Tawarau

and Puaroa Gorges by DOC hunters were confirmed to have been shot. Cattle were also present in a bush area on private land. This area was treated using ground-based methods with the agreement of the landowner.

Lessons Learned

The earlier cattle reports are followed up, the easier it is to minimise damage and prepare an appropriate response. 6.2.2 Soil and Water Quality No monitoring of soil and water quality was undertaken. 6.2.3 Ecosystems No monitoring of ecosystems was undertaken. 6.2.4 Human Health No monitoring of human health was undertaken. 6.3 OUTCOME MONITORING Outcome targets T o increase foliar cover of monitored tree species (mangeao, mahoe and kamahi)

6.3.1 Outcome monitoring : Litsea calicaris kamahi - Weinmannia racemosa mahoe - Melicytus ramiflorus

Monitoring Method(s) Foliar browse index (FBI) Monitoring information due date 2010/2011 Method details Current FBI standard methodology (Payton et

al, 1999)


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Monitoring dates TBC Outcome Results FBI monitoring is an ongoing programme at Tawarau. No monitoring has taken place since this operation. Previously, monitoring has shown a positive result after possum control operations. Outcome target met? Monitoring ongoing Lessons Learned N/A


Operational Report for Possum, Ship rat Control in the ...€¦ · Toxic loading 1.5 g/kg Bait...

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