Conference 2003
Greening the City:
Bringing Biodiversity Back
into the Urban Environment
Abstract:
Banks
Peninsula - a Connected Island
Frances Schmechel (NZ Landcare Trust, Christchurch)
Banks Peninsula is tied
to Christchurch in many ways - physically, socially and perhaps
politically. Yet both are also islands - Christchurch a city of
trees and people surrounded by the Canterbury plains, Banks Peninsula
a historic island only recently connected to the mainland. This
creates both risks and opportunities.
Banks Peninsula is a
volcanic landscape that was an island for much of its 15 million
years existence. As such it has a number of endemics, including
6 plants and about 2-4% of its insects. Banks Peninsula has undergone
extensive changes since the arrival of humans. Most of its forest
cover was lost through logging and burning. Only about 1% of the
original forests have survived. More recently many areas have begun
to regenerate, with about 15% now under some form of regenerating
bush.
One group very involved
in biodiversity on the Peninsula is the Banks Peninsula Conservation
Trust, which emerged out of the district planning process. Composed
mainly of farmers and local landowners, its aims are to promote
conservation, biodiversity enhancement, and sustainable land management
on the Peninsula through voluntary means, rather than rules. A variety
of methods are being used to achieve these goals including conservation
covenants, fencing, eradication of goats, possum control, weed control,
and newsletters. New initiatives will soon be underway including
field days, workshops, and local Bay meetings.
There are risks to Banks
Peninsula biodiversity from its proximity to Christchurch, including
weeds (especially from gardens), the abandonment of pets, and overuse
from tourists and city dwellers alike. Water availability and water
quality are also issues for residents of the Peninsula. Land uses
may change as land values rise and areas are subdivided for lifestyle
blocks.
Opportunities include
the restoration of gullies (al la Hamilton City), creation of habitat
linkages and restoration back into Christchurch of birds such as
brown creeper, tomtit, and rifleman that are resident on the Peninsula.
There are also opportunities to increase native animal and plant
numbers via pest control, and perhaps one day to even restore tui
back onto the Peninsula.
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