The Project: a wildlife sanctuary in the Bay of Islands
Project Island Song is a wildlife sanctuary. The seven main islands in the eastern Bay of Islands have been pest mammal free since 2009, and the natural eco-systems are being restored. Thousands of trees have been planted, and five rare and endangered species have been reintroduced. Many more species are planned. In this wildlife sanctuary you can discover the home of some of the world’s most fascinating and rare wildlife.
Project Island Song is a unique partnership between:
- Community group the Guardians of the Bay of Islands
- Te Rawhiti hapū (Ngati Kuta and Patukeha)
- The Department of Conservation.
This partnership is dedicated to restoring ecological balance to the islands of the Eastern Bay of Islands (Ipipiri). Drawing together the energy, talent and culture of local people to bring the birdsong back to Ipipiri, note by note.
Our focus:
- Ongoing pest control/monitoring to maintain pest-free status (the islands were made pest-free in 2009)
- Species reintroduction (five reintroductions to date, sixteen more planned)
- Ongoing native tree planting (30,000 planted to date)
- Weedbusting - weekly weeding missions dealing to plant pests!
- Promoting biosecurity to all those visiting the islands
- The floating classroom - educating future generations of kaitiaki
- Working with mainland pest control groups to minimise pests swimming to the islands
Project timeline:
Project links:
Visit the Islands Species reintroductions Planting Pest/weed control Biosecurity Floating classroom
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