The latest update on the Predator Free 2025 eradication project in New Zealand.
Predator Free 2050 is probably the most ambitious invasive predator eradication project anywhere in the world. Apart from general interest for New Zealand pest managers, with a significant focus of the program on rodent (especially rat) eradication, there are potential learnings on rodent control techniques and products.
The program has released two documents summarising the achievements to date (‘The Story So Far’) and key learnings from the research (‘Learnings So Far’).
One of the key interim goals of the program is to demonstrate that predator eradication can be achieved in areas of mainland New Zealand of at least 20,000 hectares without the use of fences. Currently over 114,000 hectares are in the ‘defence phase’ of elimination – predators have been eliminated from an area that is now being defended against re-invasion. One specific milestone was reached in November 2023 with the elimination of rats and mustelids (stoats and weasels) from the Miramar Peninsula.
A second interim goal was to have one million hectares of mainland New Zealand where predators are suppressed by 2025. Counting only landscape projects funded and supported by PF2050 Limited, 640,000 hectares are under suppression or elimination management. The project believes that they are well on the way towards achieving this goal.
In terms of learnings from a project management point of view, individual project success has been best achieved by having locals on the ground supported by technical experts, rather than having projects governed by agencies. This local management, by default, helps with local engagement and communication, building trust in the project.
These summary documents are available on the Predator Free 2050 website.
