People Helping Nature Podcast

People Helping Nature Podcast

di Conservation Amplified

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Stagione 1

Hunter-Led Conservation Saving Species From Local Extinction (with Sam The Trap Man)

People usually think of hunting & gathering as something completely separate from conservation. But when the forest is your food basket, you see places and species that others don’t notice. You see the trends through the seasons, and you know when something isn’t right… Sam (Hamiora) Gibson, also known as Sam The Trap Man, spent his younger years trapping, fishing and hunting in the Waioeka Gorge, between Opotiki and Gisborne. They would hear kiwi call at night and rivers were packed with whio (native blue duck). Then he moved away to Fiordland to broaden his conservation horizons. When he returned, the whio had practically disappeared, and kiwi couldn’t be heard calling. While Sam had been looking after other people’s ngahere (forests), nobody had been looking after his… DOC didn’t have funding to help. So he got together with a bunch of hunting mates and started Eastern Whio Link. What started as just 4 whio pairs in the Waioeka Gorge multiplied into 100+ chicks hatched in just a few short years. Here are some of the things we discussed: Sam’s formative years growing up in the Te Urewera forest with legendary trappers and hunters that kickstarted his career in conservation. What it was like doing conservation work in the back blocks of Fiordland. The incredible story of Eastern Whio Link and the amazing mahi (work) they’re doing. Why we need to connect people back to their ecosystems, because when we’re connected, we care and protect them. How learning to hunt and forage for kai (food) is a great way to connect people back to their ecosystems (especially younger people). How hunters are becoming our conservation spies because they go to places that nobody else does and can spot species that weren’t known to live there... Misunderstandings around how hunting fits into the conservation landscape and the role of population dynamics. And much more… 👩About Sam: Sam Gibson is a trapper and conservation worker who runs the popular Instagram page @sam_the_trap_man with >19k followers. He's spent his life in the bush hunting, trapping and fishing, and has worked for DOC as well as private conservation companies. In 2019, Sam established the Eastern Whio Link conservation project, restoring whio (native blue duck) to the rivers of the Waioeka on the East Coast, where he grew up. This work is largely done by volunteers and is bearing fruit - the team started with four breeding pairs, which have since birthed 100+ chicks, and he reports that the number of whio bobbing in the waters in the area is starting to increase noticeably. 🔗Learn more: Eastern Whio Link: www.easternwhiolink.co.nz Sam’s website: www.samthetrapman.nz Sam’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/sam_the_trap_man 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

Forest Guardians And The Battle For Kōkako (with Carmel Richardson & Graeme Young)

Imagine seeing an extremely rare bird (kōkako) go from declining without any support to having an entire community of volunteers, farmers, iwi, forestry, council, and NGOs unite to bring it back… Imagine giving countless volunteer hours over 30+ years to restore habitat for the kōkako population in Kaharoa Forest and experiencing the changes over that time. Imagine seeing your life’s work expand into an intergenerational project that connects forests, restores habitats, and secures a future for your beloved birds… In this episode, we are joined by Carmel Richardson and Graeme Young, who have played a pivotal role in establishing, growing and leading the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust and now work with KEEP (kōkako ecosystem expansion project) to connect the Kahaoa Forest with other kōkako habitats in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Here are some of the things we discussed: An intro to kōkako - what they look like, how they behave, and their evolutionary state. An 8 year study into why kōkako were declining. How this led to the formation of Kaharoa Kokako Trust in 1997. The threats that kōkako are facing today. What’s needed to protect them going forward. Why protecting kōkako means restoring the full forest ecosystem. The beautiful story of how KEEP formed to create intergenerational outcomes for forests in the Bay of Plenty. What’s possible when people from all different backgrounds unite around a common conservation goal. What a healthy forest ecosystem looks like. The damaging effect that browsing ungulates (deer, pigs, goats) have by eating the understory. What conservation means to Graeme and Carmel. And more… 👩About Carmel: Carmel Richardson trained in horticulture but has spent her life working with birds. She has been helping to understand and protect kōkako at Kaharoa Forest for over 30 years and has worked with kiwi at the National Kiwi Hatchery for around 20 years. Currently, Carmel is a trustee for the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust and is the only trustee to have served since its inception in 1997. Carmel stays busy doing bird survey work and passing on her knowledge to adults and children alike. 👩About Graeme: Graeme Young had a career in forestry and sawmilling, starting out with 21 years at the Forest Research Institute. Since retirement, he has taken on the role of chair of the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust but has been involved as a volunteer and trustee with the group since the late 1990’s. He also helps the Department of Conservation with weweia/dabchick, and other waterbird surveys in the Rotorua Lakes area. 🔗Learn more: Kaharoa Kōkako Trust’s (KKT) website: www.kokako.org.nz Kaharoa Kōkako Trust’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/kaharoakokakotrust KEEP: www.keep.org.nz 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

Conservation Through The Lens of Wildlife Pathology (with Annie Pagé)

Why do we post-mortem and study wildlife after it dies? How does pathology influence our understanding of biodiversity trends at a species level? And what risks does the potential arrival of avian influenza pose to Aotearoa New Zealand’s birds? In this episode, we are joined by Annie Pagé, wildlife pathologist resident at Massey University, subantarctic sea lion researcher, and ⁠Heritage Expeditions⁠ tour guide. Here are some of the things we discussed: Why pathology and mortality studies are an important tool in helping threatened wildlife. How pathology affects our big-picture understanding of species trends and informs policy-making. The potential risk of avian influenza reaching our shores. The almost 50% decline in NZ sea lion pups around Auckland Islands over the last 20 years. Our trip to the subantarctic islands with Heritage Expeditions. The transformational impact of exposing people to wild places. A day in the life of a wildlife pathologist. What conservation means to Annie. And more… 👩About Annie: Annie Pagé started her life’s adventure in the Otago Peninsula, where the ocean became an integral part of her identity. Throughout her diverse conservation career, she has worked with a wide range of species, including albatross, penguins, sea lions and species further afield in Australia, Patagonia and South Africa. Annie has sailed the South Pacific monitoring the state of our oceans, spent time in the African bush dehorning rhino to help combat the poaching crisis, studied NZ sea lions in the subantarctic islands, researched penguin population dynamics in remote Patagonia, served on the New Zealand UNESCO Youth Panel, spoken at APEC and UN events, sat on the New Zealand Conservation Board, been on the board of the Tasmanian Wildlife Hospital and establishing Kaikōura Wildlife Hospital, and more. These days, she works as a wildlife pathology resident at Massey University, where her input contributes towards important outcomes such as policy making and gaining a better understanding of mortality trends in wild species. 🔗Learn more: Annie’s website: www.green-angst.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/annesophiepage 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

What Does a Healthy Ecosystem Look Like in New Zealand? (with Wayne O'Keefe)

What does a healthy ecosystem actually look like in Aotearoa New Zealand? And what role does the endangered kōkako bird (Callaeas wilsoni) play in the conservation landscape? In this episode, we are joined by Wayne O’Keefe, who wears many hats in the conservation space, including ongoing efforts to help develop intergenerational forest corridors through KEEP, the Kōkako Ecosystem Expansion Programme. Here are some of the things we discussed: How and why kōkako are such a great indicator of forest health. Why protecting kōkako really means looking after all the other species in the forest. Why kōkako need at least 2000 hectares of connected forest to have a resilient population. How this need evolved into creating ecological corridors that connect existing forest remnants through KEEP. What 65 million years of isolation has done to New Zealand’s flora and fauna. What a healthy ecosystem looks like in Aotearoa New Zealand. What conservation means to Wayne. And much more… 👩About Wayne: Wayne O’Keefe has a passion for supporting community-based conservation initiatives. He serves a range of leading conservation organisations that include KEEP (Kōkako Ecosystem Expansion Programme), Bay Conservation Alliance, Tane’s Tree Trust, Whakatāne Kiwi Trust, and more… 🔗Learn more: KEEP: ⁠www.keep.org.nz⁠ Bay Conservation Alliance: ⁠www.bayconservation.nz⁠ Whakatane Kiwi Trust: ⁠www.whakatanekiwi.org.nz⁠ Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust: ⁠www.kiwitrust.org⁠ Kaharoa Kōkako Trust: ⁠www.kokako.org.nz⁠ 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

Introduction To The People Helping Nature Podcast (with Anna & Callum)

Welcome to the People Helping Nature Podcast! In this inaugural introduction episode, hosts and co-founders of Conservation Amplified, Anna Wentsch and Callum Armstrong share: The story behind why they started this podcast How there’s so much awesome work being done to help nature, but more awareness is needed to make conservation mainstream What you as the listener can expect to get out of listening to future episodes 👩About Anna: Originally from Germany and self-introduced to New Zealand, Anna Wentsch is passionate about habitat protection and threatened species conservation. She has worked with Kiwi, Korora, Whio, Shorebirds and other critters, and loves supporting community environmental groups in her spare time. 👩About Callum: Callum Armstrong spends his days at the intersection of business and conservation, with one foot in both worlds. As a marketer and entrepreneur by trade, he believes that if we want to create a future where nature thrives, we need to change the culture and behaviour of humanity into one where biodiversity is valued. More info about Callum: www.callum.nz 🎙️About the podcast: The People Helping Nature podcast is brought to you by Conservation Amplified, a registered New Zealand charity that’s on a mission to make conservation mainstream. We do this by bringing a megaphone to the world of conservation by featuring people from all walks of life who are doing interesting and important things to help nature thrive. We aim to make it easy for everyone to learn, understand, take action, and feel like they’re a part of the solution. Find out more about Conservation Amplified at www.conservationamplified.org.

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