Eliminating Possums From Banks Peninsula: A Blueprint For NZ (with Ollie Rutland-Sims, Pest Free Banks Peninsula)
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Australian brush-tail possums are one of the most widespread and damaging introduced pests in Aotearoa New Zealand, with an estimated ~30 million around the country.
They are wreaking havoc on both our native plants and animals, and they put pressure on our ecosystems, farms, and the wider economy. Most of the time, we respond by suppressing possum numbers. But on Banks Peninsula, a different approach is taking shape.
In this episode, we sit down with Ollie Rutland-Sims from Pest Free Banks Peninsula to learn about their possum elimination programme: A bold mission, strategically working to drive possum numbers to zero in their area under the ethos that “offence is the best defence”.
As Ollie explains, “we're now dealing with quite a legacy problem and a population that really, the only checks and balances on it are coming from human inputs”
Ollie shares Pest Free Banks Peninsula’s 4-stage elimination strategy: Knock-down → mop-up → surveillance → and lastly the defence phase after a block of land has been declared possum-free.
It’s an approach that’s working, with 5,800 hectares already declared possum-free - and could be used as blueprint for possum elimination throughout the country.
We also talk about mindset and the need to constantly deliver professional, spot-on work for this elimination approach to work: Continuous learning about your target species and constant improvments are key to success.
Amazingly the benefits of this mahi reach far beyond positive biodiversity and conservation outcomes, with local farmers, community, and the economy also gaining from possum-free landscapes.
This project shows that eliminating a pest species in an open system on the mainland is not only achievable but also an investment into the future.
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Why brush-tail possums were introduced into NZ.
Why they’re such a big threat to our native flora and fauna.
The benefits of possum elimination vs. supression.
Why elimination is feasible on the Banks Peninsula.
Pest Free Banks Peninsula’s 4-phase approach to eliminate possums from their landscape.
How reinvasions are managed in an open mainland system.
The long term cost savings of elimination vs. suppression.
The importance of social license and relationships with private landowners.
The positive effects of this mahi beyond conservation outcomes.
Top tips and learnings from the PF Banks Peninsula team.
What to do when you see a possum on the Banks Peninsula.
And much more…
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Ollie Rutland-Sims works for the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust as an Operations Coordinator within their Pest Free Banks Peninsula program, leading field teams working toward landscape-scale possum elimination near Akaroa, Banks Peninsula. With a background in practical, boots-on-the-ground conservation, Ollie combines operational planning with hands-on experience in wildlife management. He’s passionate about improving field efficiency, supporting strong team culture, and delivering meaningful conservation outcomes for Aotearoa.
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We are on a mission to help make conservation mainstream by amplifying the awesome stuff people are doing to help nature all around Aotearoa New Zealand.
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