Forest Guardians And The Battle For Kōkako (with Carmel Richardson & Graeme Young)

Written By Callum Armstrong

  • Imagine seeing kōkako go from declining without any support to having an entire community of volunteers, farmers, iwi, forestry, council, and NGOs unite to bring it back…

    Imagine giving countless volunteer hours over 30+ years to restore habitat for the kōkako population in Kaharoa Forest and experiencing the changes over that time.

    Imagine seeing your life’s work expand into an intergenerational project that connects forests, restores habitats, and secures a future for your beloved birds…

    In this episode, we are joined by Carmel Richardson and Graeme Young, who have played a pivotal role in establishing, growing and leading the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust and now work with KEEP (kōkako ecosystem expansion project) to connect the Kaharoa Forest with other kōkako habitats in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

  • Here are some of the things we discussed:

    • An intro to kōkako - what they look like, how they behave, and their evolutionary state.

    • An 8-year study into why kōkako were declining.

    • How this led to the formation of Kaharoa Kokako Trust in 1997.

    • The threats that kōkako are facing today.

    • What’s needed to protect them going forward.

    • Why protecting kōkako means restoring the full forest ecosystem.

    • The beautiful story of how KEEP formed to create intergenerational outcomes for forests in the Bay of Plenty.

    • What’s possible when people from all different backgrounds unite around a common conservation goal.

    • What a healthy forest ecosystem looks like.

    • The damaging effect that browsing ungulates (deer, pigs, goats) have by eating the understory.

    • And much more…

  • 👩About Carmel:

    Carmel Richardson trained in horticulture but has spent her life working with birds. She has been helping to understand and protect kōkako at Kaharoa Forest for over 30 years and has worked with kiwi at the National Kiwi Hatchery for around 20 years. 

    Currently, Carmel is a trustee for the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust and is the only trustee to have served since its inception in 1997. Carmel stays busy doing bird survey work and passing on her knowledge to adults and children alike.

    👩About Graeme:

    Graeme Young had a career in forestry and sawmilling, starting out with 21 years at the Forest Research Institute. Since retirement, he has taken on the role of chair of the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust but has been involved as a volunteer and trustee with the group since the late 1990’s. 

    He also helps the Department of Conservation with weweia/dabchick, and other waterbird surveys in the Rotorua Lakes area.

    🔗Learn more:

  • The People Helping Nature podcast is brought to you by Conservation Amplified, a registered New Zealand charity.

    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.

    Because when people are aware, connected to the ecosystems around them and care enough to take positive action, only then will we see lasting change.

    Listen in and follow us to start or deepen your journey.

Callum Armstrong
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