Notwithstanding the devastating picture painted by the landmark report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in May, a team of international researchers have found that if predatory mammals could be eradicated from 107 islands around the planet, it would protect 80 threatened species and help reach a United Nations Environmental Programme goal to halt biodiversity loss.
Of the 107 islands identified, five of those were in New Zealand: Great Barrier Island/Aotea and Kawau Island and Slipper Island in the Hauraki Gulf, Motukawanui Island in Northland, and the subantarctic Auckland Island.
University of Auckland conservation biologist Dr James Russell, who contributed to the study, speaks to Jamie Morton about the study here.
Elimination of predators on Kawau and Aotea is already part of Auckland Council’s Regional Pest Management Plan 2019-2029.
The UN report can be found here.