A new Predator Free Farm Award will be presented next year as part of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards
Farmers will be recognised for their part in the nationwide movement of Predator Free New Zealand when a new Predator Free Farm Award will be presented next year as part of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Sponsored by Predator Free NZ Trust and the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, the new award will acknowledge the efforts of farmers who have put in place systems to manage and monitor predators effectively, including possums, rats, feral cats, ferrets, weasels, and stoats.
The award will be given to farmers who have been successful in controlling predators and are likely to have wider native biodiversity and habitat enhancement programmes in place.
Chair of Predator Free NZ Trust, Sir Rob Fenwick, says, “Farmers manage a significant proportion of the New Zealand landscape, so they are vital in the drive to make New Zealand predator free.
“We know many farmers who have been involved in significant predator control programmes on their land for many years. More and more are seeing the brand value and property enhancement by predator eradication on their properties.
“This award celebrates those already doing great work and will hopefully inspire more people to get involved.”
Joanne van Polanen, chair of the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, is thrilled to have developed a partnership with Predator Free NZ Trust.
“For many farmers and growers, managing pests is part and parcel of being effective stewards of the land. Farmers are actively involved in a raft of initiatives to support native biodiversity development, including by taking measures to reduce populations of possums, rats, feral cats, ferrets, weasels, and stoats.
“Enhancing our native biodiversity by getting rid of animal predators is a vision that all New Zealanders can get behind. It is important both environmentally and economically. Farmers are great innovators.
“Increasingly, we are finding that farmers are involved in a range of creative initiatives to manage predator populations, including making use of new technology. Acknowledging their efforts and sharing knowledge about actions that are effective is essential for achieving the ambition to rid New Zealand of animal predators.”
Farms throughout New Zealand are currently being considered for the Predator Free Farm Award and winners will be announced at a series of regional awards dinners commencing early 2018.