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Deer are a serious pest on public conservation land. There is clear
scientific evidence that deer pose a significant and ongoing threat to New
Zealand's native forests and grassland ecosystems.
Deer prevent regeneration of favoured plant species, which causes
significant changes to the structure and composition of native ecosystems.
In forests, deer browsing can lead to canopy collapse.
New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy (NZBS) funding is being used by the
Department of Conservation to expand its deer control work, which is guided
by a
deer policy. The Department’s first and over-riding concern is the
protection of New Zealand's unique indigenous biodiversity, which takes
precedence over the recreational and commercial value of deer as a hunting
resource. The Department’s policy supports objective 1.3 of the NZBS, which is to prevent, control and manage plant and
animal pests, to maintain or improve the condition and health of habitats
and ecosystems important for indigenous biodiversity.
In the Auckland and Northland regions, the Department is working towards
eliminating all deer. NZBS funding is being used for deer control
operations, surveys of deer populations, and for working with deer farmers
to ensure accidental liberations of deer do not occur in future. |
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