Projects & Programs
Russell Landcare Trust’s projects and programs are aimed at protecting and enhancing the natural biodiversity of the Russell Peninsula.
Predator Free Russell
This is a joint initiative with Northland Regional Council and Predator Free New Zealand. The project aims to eliminate rats, possums and stoats from the 3,000 hectare Russell peninsula. It is one of the few Predator Free projects across the country that is targeting rats. Russell Landcare is using innovative ways to be efficient with delivery yet avoid affecting non-target species such as weka and kiwi which are found throughout the peninsula.
Native habitat restoration
Over its 20+ years RLT’s keen local volunteers have planted thousands of native trees, shrubs and grasses in habitats ranging from salt marsh to wetland to forest, enhancing existing ecosystems and in some places re-establishing them. Weeding programmes target invasive species such as ginger, wattle, pampas grass, banana passionfruit, tobacco weed and Japanese honeysuckle. Current projects include the ongoing restoration of the Pipiroa Te Wahapu catchment wetlands in partnership with Living Waters BOI and ginger removal in the Kororāreka Reserve by local residents.
Dune restoration
The Trust has been working with local residents and pupils from Russell School and Northland Regional Council CoastCare to restore the dunes at Oneroa Long Beach. Spinifex, pingao, wiwi and other native plants have been planted around existing patches of spinifex and temporary fencing put in to protect the plants from people walking on and off the beach. Sand-ladders have also been put in to improve access down to the beach and reduce erosion by foot traffic.
Russell Kiwi Protection
Russell Kiwi Protection aims to preserve and protect these natural treasure/taonga for future generations. We do this by protecting them from introduced predators like rats, stoats and possums, as well as preventing invasive weeds from degrading our forests and wetlands.
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