Latest news with #Zealandia
Forbes
4 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Urban Rewilding Makes Cities More Biodiverse And Better For Our Health
Two new studies show that successful efforts to bring animals back into global cities come with widespread benefits The reintroduction of kākā to Wellington is just one of several successful programs designed to ... More re-wild the world's cities. Other research suggests that easy access to biodiverse regions improves human health The kākā (Nestor meridionalis) is a large parrot found only in Aotearoa New Zealand. Its olive-brown plumage, grey head, and red-orange underwing and belly mean that it can easily blend into dense forest canopies. Its agile wings allow it to weave silently through tree trunks and branches. And thanks to its strong beak and claws, the kākā is a skilled forager, eating everything from insects and seeds, to nectar and fruit. The first time I ever saw a kākā in person was not in a native forest, as you might expect. It was in a hilly part of New Zealand's capital city, Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara), a short walk from a busy road. Their presence is the result not of luck, but of a decades-long conservation effort that's a story in itself. At the heart of it is a fenced, 225-hectare sanctuary called Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne. In 2000, it became 'the world's first zone in an urban environment free from introduced mammals.' Two years later, less than ten captive-bred kākā were introduced to the sanctuary with the aim of breeding them – the first time the birds had been seen in the city in close to a century. By 2018/19, that population had swelled to over 1,000 kākā, and it spilled out into the wider city. Today, it's relatively common to see (and hear) these intelligent parrots socializing in flocks, or if you're very lucky, on your balcony. Looking after our urban native birds* has become a city-wide obsession. Alongside Zealandia, the department of Conservation, the city council, and national organizations like Predator Free NZ, volunteers work to restore native plants in the city's numerous reserves and parks, to provide habitat and food for the birds. Traps to catch rats, possums, and stoats are scattered across key parts of the urban landscape, with hundreds of locals offering their gardens as trapping sites. All of their effort is paying off. Between 2011 and 2024, annual counts of kākā increased by 170%, and for kererū (the NZ wood pigeon famed for getting 'drunk' on fermented fruit) the increase was a staggering 243%. In the same period, populations of my two favorite birds, the tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) and pīwakawaka (NZ fantail) have increased by 93% and 37% respectively. In other parts of city, kiwi are successfully being reintroduced. The remarkably effective 8.6km-long fence that encloses the Zealandia sanctuary is made of tight, ... More mouse-proof wire mesh which extends into the ground. Its height (2.1-2.4m) and rounded cap help to ensure that introduced mammals and predators cannot enter by climbing, either. At 25 years old, the fence is nearing the end of its lifespan. Plans are underway to begin replacing it Wellington is not the only city working to reintroduce animal (fauna) species to its urban jungle. A new paper from a group of Australian ecologists, published in the journal Bioscience, looked specifically at efforts to reverse unprecedented biodiversity decline through urban rewilding. While there is no singular definition of the term 'urban rewilding' – it has been adapted and changed over time – these authors offer their own rather wordy version: 'the reintroduction of locally extirpated, missing, or surrogate faunal species into habitat patches, parks, and reserves within or adjacent to human commercial or residential areas.' With that description in mind, the ecologists searched existing scientific databases for real-world examples of successful urban rewilding. Of the 120 relevant studies they identified, two-thirds focused exclusively on vegetation, and just 17 'documented active terrestrial faunal species re-introductions into urban environments.' Wellington's work with kākā was one of them. Some of the other successes include a project to reintroduce beavers to London for the first time in 400 years, peregrine falcons now nesting on Chicago high-rises, the oriental pied hornbill breeding in Singapore, and a baby platypus spotted in a Sydney park a few months after five pairs has been reintroduced. The aim of urban rewilding typically goes beyond the recovery of particular species. Community engagement, education, and cultural restoration all play roles in these projects, as lead author Dr Patrick Finnerty explains, 'They reconnect people with nature – an antidote to what researchers call nature deficit disorder. In today's urban environments, many children can name hundreds of brands but often not a single native bird or mammal. Bringing wildlife back into daily life improves mental health, fosters environmental stewardship, and reminds us that nature isn't something 'out there'.' A family of 5 beavers, 2 adults and 3 kits, were released back into Paradise Fields reserve in west ... More London, for the first time in 400 project is part of the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan's, 'Rewild London' fund. (Photo by) There is a group of social scientists in China who would agree with Finnerty's conclusions on health. Their (unconnected) paper, published in the journal Nature Cities just a few days after the Australian one, looked not at urban rewilding, but at the accessibility and mental health impact of 'biodiversity-rich recreational areas' close to cities. There have been a large number of studies which show that having more green areas in a city comes with physical and mental health benefits to its residents. And there's some evidence that the quality of that green space matters, with, for example, wooded areas linked to lower levels of hypertension than a grass lawn. However, understanding the relationship between nature experiences and mental well-being is complex, and is likely influenced by how easily someone can 'access' nature – is it on their doorstep, or do they need to travel long distances to reach it? This study, which looked at 9,034 cities scattered around the world, aimed to 'bridge [the] divide between biodiversity conservation and public health research.' In each city, the researchers analyzed how accessible and affordable it is for residents to reach biodiverse regions. Their second research question was around the mental health impact of visiting biodiversity-rich recreational areas – they wanted to know how cost-effective such access can be as a public health intervention in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Having easy access to lush, green forest can improve city-dwellers' mental health (photo from Long ... More Bay Coastal Okura Track in Auckland). They found that 96.7% of cities are within a two-hour journey to a biodiversity-rich recreational area, but that accessibility was not evenly distributed. Cities in Europe, Oceania, and North America had the best access to such areas, with 85% of them able to reach one within 15 min. For the majority of cities in South America and Asia, travel times were closer to an hour. The lowest accessibility (and highest travel cost ratios) was seen in cities in sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia and Southeast Asia, where many residents are more than 4 hours away from one of these areas. In terms of using biodiversity-rich recreational area visits as a public mental health intervention, the researchers found that it would be 'very cost effective' in 242 cities and 'cost-effective' in 1206 cities. Most of these cities were in high-income countries in Europe, North America and South America. But they say that if travel costs were excluded from the analysis, the benefits of accessing biodiversity-rich recreational areas would be a cost-effective mental health intervention in every city they studied. In other words, if these areas were easier to reach, everyone would benefit. The authors conclude, 'Realizing the untapped potential of accessible biodiversity-rich recreational areas to cities could substantially enhance their benefits via a number of interventions. For instance….the restoration and rewilding of degraded areas near cities…[and] progressively expanding protected areas.' --- * The focus is on birds is because New Zealand's only native mammals are bats and marine mammals (like seals, dolphins and whales).
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
World-renowned Zealandia fence to be replaced 25 years after being built
Jo Ledington, Zealandia's general manager of conservation and restoration. Photo: RNZ / Kate Green Wellington's most famous fence is nearing the end of its lifespan, with a design for its replacement underway 25 years after it was first installed around Zealandia. It was the first of its kind worldwide when it was built in 2000, and now, the eco-sanctuary is home to some rare and protected flora and fauna , including parasitic plants, kiwi, takahē and tuatara. That initial fence design process in the early nineties involved a prototype built in a Wellington warehouse, a handful of rodent-y test subjects and some video cameras to capture their attempts to scale it. What emerged was the fence we know today, between 2.1 and 2.4 metres high, made of tight, mouse-proof wire mesh which extends a little way underground, and with a rounded cap on top, to keep pests from climbing over. But by now, Jo Ledington, the sanctuary's general manager for conservation and restoration, said it was beginning to reach the point where the cost of maintenance outweighed putting in a replacement. And that meant opportunities for improvement - starting at the front gate. "You hear that clanging?" Ledington said, letting it swing shut with a bang. "It's like going through prison gates, so I would like to see that just be a bit more welcoming." The entranceway could be in for a redesign when the rest of Zealandia's fence is replaced. Photo: RNZ / Kate Green On the fence itself, the metal seams along the cap on top were rusting, some posts were leaning, and Ledington said they could do with wider emergency exits for better vehicle access. There would also be some tweaks to accommodate some of the sanctuary's newer residents - tuatara. "Tuatara dig, they burrow," Ledington said. "Sometimes we've had burrows that look like they could come all the way out. "So we have an external skirt that is dug into the ground about 30 centimetres, and then comes out about 30 centimetres, and that stops rabbits from digging down under, so we're keen to look at doing something similar on the inside." It could be that sections were fully replaced, and others only altered. A tuatara at Zealandia Ecosanctuary. Photo: Ellen Rykers Right now, Zealandia was seeking donations to help pay for it - although just how much it would need was not yet known. But Ledington could offer a guess. "If we looked at the cost of the original fence, and then applied inflation to that, we'd be looking at about four to five million." One thing they did know -- they weren't planning to do this again, hopeful that by the time this fence reached the end of its life, the country would have reached its predator-free goal, meaning no need for a fence at all. Detailed designs were expected in September, which would shed light on the materials and the cost. Jo Ledington points out her favourite part of the original Zealandia fence design which stops mice looping their tails around the bolts to get up and over. Photo: RNZ / Kate Green Standing just outside the sanctuary's entrance, Ledington pointed out her favourite part of the original fence; a piece of flat metal measuring about five centimetres, sheilding long bolts on the interior of the curved cap. "That was a last minute addition, because what they found was that mice were crawling up here, and putting their tail around this bar here, and using their tail to flick themselves up over the hood." The only thing causing concern for Ledington was the risk to the sanctuary's inhabitants of deconstructing their protective barrier, no matter how temporary. "We now have this huge duty of care to everything we've put in here," she said. Working on the new fence's design was engineering consultancy firm GHD, who were doing it for free as part of their global pro-bono work programme. Technical director Justine Jones headed up a team of seven, and said so far it had been an engaging challenge compared to their normal work of buildings and pipes. "The team are nearly all Wellington based, they go to Zealandia, they're invested in the project," she said. The original build had required some unusual techniques. "They did a lot of research," she said. "As I understand it, they built a prototype, and then in a warehouse they put the fence up, put something tasty on the inside of the fence, and then released rats and stoats and things and then recorded them to see how they got to the food." The fenceline is dotted with signs asking people not to inadvertently create a bridge for leaping predators. Photo: RNZ / Kate Green Since then, the blueprint had been used for dozens of other predator-proof fences around the world. "What we've been doing is speaking to some of those other sanctuaries who have installed fences more recently, and understood the changes that they have made in their design, and speaking to the suppliers that we have to see what might be available that wasn't before," Jones said. It was a big job, on steep terrain, and it had to be done right - neighbours notified, and the integrity of the fence maintained while work was carried out. That meant machinery could not be left close to the fenceline after work hours, as pests could use it to climb over, and any gear or machines taken in would have to be decontaminated and quarantined. Zealandia's chief executive Danielle Shanahan said the first 100-metre section would be replaced by the middle of 2026, and then over the next five years they would begin picking up pace. Dr Danielle Shanahan, CEO of Zealandia. Photo: Zealandia Some of the funding garnered already was coming from the estate of John Nankervis, a Wellington tramper and mountaineer who [ left millions to conservation efforts on his death] in 2022. Shanahan said this early work was important for creating a reliable blueprint for the replacement of the fence as a whole. "Because we've got many species inside that are vulnerable, we need to do this with great care, we can't just rip the whole thing down and stick a new one up," Shanahan said. "We'll do it piecemeal, and in sections." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Ngā Manu Winter Speaker Series Launches 21 May With Zealandia CEO Danielle Shanahan
Press Release – Nga Manu Danielle will speak on Zealandia: The Sanctuary that Changed a Nation, sharing how a bold vision for nature restoration in Wellington helped reverse biodiversity loss and sparked a movement thats now influencing urban environments across the … WAIKANAE, Kāpiti Coast — Ngā Manu Nature Reserve is proud to launch the 2025 Winter Speaker Series on Wednesday 21 May with a compelling talk by Dr Danielle Shanahan, CEO of Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, and a leading voice in regenerative tourism and urban ecological restoration. Danielle will speak on 'Zealandia: The Sanctuary that Changed a Nation', sharing how a bold vision for nature restoration in Wellington helped reverse biodiversity loss and sparked a movement that's now influencing urban environments across the globe. Drawing on powerful visuals and years of impact data, Danielle will explore: 'how regenerative tourism has helped reverse the loss of nature in Wellington amidst a global context of biodiversity decline. I will show you visual evidence of this change, outline the social movement that made this possible, and unpack what it means for people's health and wellbeing. By focusing on hope and pragmatic optimism, we can create a better future for people and nature.' Guests are invited to arrive at 1:00pm for complimentary tea and coffee, with the talk beginning at 1:30pm at Ngā Manu Nature Reserve in Waikanae. Entry is by koha (donation). Danielle is an internationally recognised researcher and conservation practitioner, currently CEO at Zealandia and Adjunct Professor at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. She has made significant advances in improving biodiversity outcomes and quantifying the social, physical, and mental wellbeing benefits of nature. 'It's a privilege to have Danielle open our 2025 series,' says Anna McKenzie Hawea, from Ngā Manu. 'Her work at Zealandia has been transformational and offers inspiration and practical insight into the future of conservation in Aotearoa.' 2025 Winter Speaker Series Line-Up Held annually and supported by Royal Society Te Apārangi, the Winter Speaker Series brings together an exciting line-up of scientists, storytellers and conservationists. This year's programme includes: 21 May – Dr Danielle Shanahan, CEO of Zealandia: Zealandia: The Sanctuary that Changed a Nation 4 June – Professor Michael Knapp, University of Otago: Conservation Genomics and the Future of Biodiversity 18 June – Speaker TBC 2 July – Dr Heidi Meudt, Te Papa Botanist: Why New Zealand's Forget-Me-Nots Are So Special 16 July – Giselle Clarkson, Illustrator of NZ Geographic & Critter of the Week: Drawing the Natural World 23 July – Paul Ward & Jeff Hall, Capital Kiwi Project: Bringing Kiwi Home: Community, Conservation, and the Return of Aotearoa's Icon to Wellington's Backyard This series is a must for anyone passionate about Aotearoa's wildlife and its protection—from Forest & Bird members and science students to creatives, conservationists and curious locals.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Scoop
Ngā Manu Winter Speaker Series Launches 21 May With Zealandia CEO Danielle Shanahan
WAIKANAE, Kāpiti Coast — Ngā Manu Nature Reserve is proud to launch the 2025 Winter Speaker Series on Wednesday 21 May with a compelling talk by Dr Danielle Shanahan, CEO of Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, and a leading voice in regenerative tourism and urban ecological restoration. Danielle will speak on 'Zealandia: The Sanctuary that Changed a Nation', sharing how a bold vision for nature restoration in Wellington helped reverse biodiversity loss and sparked a movement that's now influencing urban environments across the globe. Drawing on powerful visuals and years of impact data, Danielle will explore: "how regenerative tourism has helped reverse the loss of nature in Wellington amidst a global context of biodiversity decline. I will show you visual evidence of this change, outline the social movement that made this possible, and unpack what it means for people's health and wellbeing. By focusing on hope and pragmatic optimism, we can create a better future for people and nature.' Guests are invited to arrive at 1:00pm for complimentary tea and coffee, with the talk beginning at 1:30pm at Ngā Manu Nature Reserve in Waikanae. Entry is by koha (donation). Danielle is an internationally recognised researcher and conservation practitioner, currently CEO at Zealandia and Adjunct Professor at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. She has made significant advances in improving biodiversity outcomes and quantifying the social, physical, and mental wellbeing benefits of nature. 'It's a privilege to have Danielle open our 2025 series,' says Anna McKenzie Hawea, from Ngā Manu. 'Her work at Zealandia has been transformational and offers inspiration and practical insight into the future of conservation in Aotearoa.' 2025 Winter Speaker Series Line-Up Held annually and supported by Royal Society Te Apārangi, the Winter Speaker Series brings together an exciting line-up of scientists, storytellers and conservationists. This year's programme includes: 21 May – Dr Danielle Shanahan, CEO of Zealandia: Zealandia: The Sanctuary that Changed a Nation 4 June – Professor Michael Knapp, University of Otago: Conservation Genomics and the Future of Biodiversity 18 June – Speaker TBC 2 July – Dr Heidi Meudt, Te Papa Botanist: Why New Zealand's Forget-Me-Nots Are So Special 16 July – Giselle Clarkson, Illustrator of NZ Geographic & Critter of the Week: Drawing the Natural World 23 July – Paul Ward & Jeff Hall, Capital Kiwi Project: Bringing Kiwi Home: Community, Conservation, and the Return of Aotearoa's Icon to Wellington's Backyard This series is a must for anyone passionate about Aotearoa's wildlife and its protection—from Forest & Bird members and science students to creatives, conservationists and curious locals.
