DOUBLE TIGERSProtecting our planet’s big cats

SAVE OUR SEA LIONSSpeaking up for threatened mammals

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CONSERVATIONNew ideas win awards

COUNT ME IF YOU CANKiwis count kererū

ISSUE 18MAGAZINE

2016

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LIVING PLANET – ISSUE 18

After fifteen years at WWF-New Zealand, the last ten as Executive Director, I’m leaving ‘team panda’. In that time I’ve been so inspired by supporters like you getting involved in the conservation issues that matter.

Recently we asked you to help the New Zealand sea lion (rāpoka). Thousands of you joined us in calling on the government to better protect these unique animals. See page 6 for more.

We also asked you to take part in the Great Kererū Count – and thousands

of you got outside and reported sightings of this beautiful bird. Turn to page 10 for more.

Whether you’ve given a gift, signed a petition, or counted kererū (or even done all three!), it all helps us achieve our goal of a world in which humans live in harmony with nature.

Thank you once again for everything you do.

P4 CONSERVATION INNOVATION AWARDS

P3 Working to double wild tiger numbersP4 Shaping the future of conservationP6 Speaking up for New Zealand’s sea lionsP8 In other wordsP9 NewsbitesP10 Kiwis count kererū

WELCOME FROM

CHRIS HOWE

CONTENTS

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P6 SAVE OUR SEA LIONS

P10 COUNT ME IF YOU CAN!

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DOUBLING OUR PLANET’S TIGERSWith their distinctive orange and black striped fur, and unique blend of grace and strength, tigers are one of the most iconic animals on the planet.

However, the big cats are in trouble. One hundred years ago, there were 100,000 wild tigers. By the year 2010, as few as 3,200 wild tigers remained. This shocking 97% population decline was driven by rampant poaching and habitat loss.

Global poaching has reached critical levels. Organised criminal gangs are increasingly involved in the illegal wildlife trade, driven

by a demand for tiger parts.

In 2010, governments of the 13 tiger range countries decided innovative conservation efforts were needed. The most ambitious and visionary species conservation goal was set to:

Double the number of wild tigers by 2022 – the next Chinese year of the tiger.

Two tigers. Cover image: A sea lion is startled by a photographer. © Bob Zuur

With your support, WWF is stepping up wildlife protection by training rangers and developing technology to combat poaching. We’re also driving political momentum to ensure tigers remain a top priority for world leaders.

The project is halfway through and there is some good news to report: Wild tiger numbers have increased for the first time globally! As of April 2016, there are now estimated to be 3890 tigers in the wild.

We are at an exciting moment in time where we have managed to halt the rapid decline of tigers. Now we need a monumental push forward to ensure the increase continues, up to and beyond 2022.

We need commitment and dedication from all tiger range governments. We need passion, enthusiasm and unwavering support from the public.

Tigers will never get this chance again, and neither will mankind.

Find out more and get involved in the campaign: tigers.panda.org

Outgoing Executive Director, WWF-New Zealand

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CONSERVATION INNOVATION AWARDS

The third annual Conservation Innovation Awards took place in November. Thanks to you and the support of The Tindall Foundation, WWF-New Zealand was able to award three prizes of $25,000 to three pioneering inventors.

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The iwi-led Uawanui Project was among 2015’s winners.

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CONSERVATION

We set out to develop fresh ideas that will help frontline conservation volunteers to protect New Zealand’s special habitats and wildlife.

So what does the future of conservation look like?

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$25KGR AN T

Find out more about our winners and their ideas at wwf.org.nz/innovation.

DRONECOUNTSBy Habitat Te Henga and X-craft

How would you find a native animal in dense bush?

Conservationists have long used hand-held receivers to find a bird or animal tagged with a transmitter. However, they can be difficult to use and time consuming, whereas drone trackers can easily fly over wetlands and forest.

Now DroneCounts wants to take tracking to the next level, with a model that can pick up several signals and map animals in an area.

RIVER WATCH By Water Action Initiative NZ

Deteriorating water quality throughout New Zealand has become a major problem.

WAI NZ has pioneered a simple floating device that helps determine the health of New Zealand’s waterways by measuring temperature, conductivity, turbidity and pH levels. Once logged, the data is sent to the WAI NZ website together with a GPS location. And unlike traditional methods for testing water, the River Watch water device is simple to operate, portable and inexpensive!

KAURI DIEBACKBy Groundtruth

Kauri dieback disease is having a devastating effect on the giants of our forest, and there is no known cure.

It is critical that we know where outbreaks are occurring as soon as possible.

Now Groundtruth has developed an app which allows people to record and map dieback sightings, so they can take simple steps to avoid spreading it – like washing their boots or staying away from the area.

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Water testing device.Philip Solaris with drone. Kauri foliage app.

SAVE OUR SEA LIONSThousands of you joined us in calling on the government to protect the New Zealand sea lion (rāpoka) – the rarest in the world.

The government released a draft Threat Management Plan for these wonderful animals that has some positive actions, but the plan will do nothing to directly reduce the effects of fishing – which is the biggest human impact on them.

With your support, we’ ll be keeping up the pressure unt il meaningful protection is in place.

A sea lion mother with her pup on a Dunedin beach.

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NEWSBITES

KIDS USE TECH FOR NATUREChildren from the Uawanui Project recently joined the ranks of those using technology to help trap pests and support conservation of New Zealand’s native species.

The Pest Trap NZ website and app let you enter traps and catches onto an online map, helping identify pest “hotspots”.

The app received funding through WWF’s Conservation Innovation Programme and is currently being used by around 300 project groups.

Find out more and get involved at https:// www.trap.nz/

HIGH-TECH HELP FOR BIRDSThe black petrel (tāiko) is one of our most endangered seabirds. The Black Petrel Working Group, of which WWF-New Zealand is a member, works to educate fishers about practical ways to prevent birds getting caught in nets or on lines.

The next step being developed is an electronic monitoring project – putting cameras on boats – to see if the actions taken by fishers are making a difference.

Thanks to new technology, the f uture is looking brighter for our birds!

THE SHIFT TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY World leaders approved a global climate agreement in Paris last year, drawing a line in the sand for the transformation of the world’s energy system into a clean and sustainable form.

Signs that a world-wide energy transition is happening are everywhere: in the growth of renewables, the rise of city-level climate actions and the stalling of global energy CO2 emissions.

We have the Paris Agreement to guide our way. Now it ’s t ime for act ion.

GREAT NEWS FOR PANDAS!Wonderful news for one of the planet’s most iconic species – the giant panda has just been taken off the ‘endangered species’ list!

The adorable black-and-white bears are still classed as vulnerable – but their numbers are slowly increasing. It shows conservation efforts are working.

This is thanks to work by the Chinese authorities and organisations including WWF – and also to the wonderful support of people like you.

Find out more about the bears at wwf.panda.org/panda

IN OTHER WORDSFigures and quotes from the frontlines of conservation.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK We’d love to know how you feel about the stories in this newsletter, and our work in general. Let us know by email at info@wwf.org.nz. Thank you!

Two girls use the Pest Trap app.

A panda enjoys some bamboo.

A black petrel (tāiko).

“The recovery of the panda shows that when science, political will and engagement of local communities come together, we can save wildlife.” Marco Lambertini, WWF Director General

90%THE PERCENTAGE OF NEW ELECTRICITY THAT WAS GENERATED BY RENEWABLES GLOBALLY IN 2015

573 THE NUMBER OF CONSERVATION

PROJECTS WWF HAS SUPPORTED IN

NEW ZEALAND

1887 THE YEAR NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST NATIONAL PARK (TONGARIRO) WAS ESTABLISHED

35 SPECIES OF WHALES AND DOLPHINS FOUND AROUND THE KERMADEC ISLANDS

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COUNT ME IF YOU CAN!Thank you to everyone who participated in the Great Kererū Count 2016!

The annual count saw people up and down the country spotting New Zealand’s native wood pigeon in parks, in the bush and in their own back gardens.

In total, there were 5,880 sightings, with 11,990 kererū counted. The data will help scientists build a picture of where kererū are flourishing – and where they’re not. This will help us understand how best to protect them.

“I’d encourage everybody to do everything they can to protect kererū,” said Michele Frank, head of conservation projects at WWF-New Zealand.

“Kererū play a critical role in our forest ecosystem. They eat the berries of trees such as tawa and disperse the seeds through the forest.

“Without kererū the forest would look very different.”

GREAT KERERŪ COUNT 2016

A kererū in the forests of New Zealand.

TOP TIPS TO SUPPORT KERERŪ

1. Plant native – kererū love kowhai, flax and fruit trees.

2. Carry out some predator control at home.

3. Put stickers on windows so kererū won’t fly into them.

Thanks to you, we’re able to support the Kererū Discovery project, which not only runs the count but inspires people to protect and care for these beautiful birds all year round.

Visit the Kererū Discovery website to pick up more t ips for support ing these

‘gardeners of the skies’: kererudiscovery.org.nz

I want to help protect wildlife and our planet

My supporter number: (You will find it on your cover letter)

With my donation of:

$250 $100 $50 $25 My choice $

I enclose a cheque made payable to “WWF-New Zealand”

Please charge my credit card: (minimum gift $5) MasterCard Visa Amex Diners

Card Holder’s Name

Credit Card Number

Expiry Signature

Please return this slip with your donation to WWF-New Zealand, PO Box 6237, Marion Square, Wellington 6141.

Your contribution is greatly appreciated, a receipt will be sent to you.

December 2016

CONTACT USFor any enquiries regarding supporting WWF

Postal address: PO Box 6237, Marion Square, Wellington 6141

Phone: 0800 4357 993 or 04 499 2930

Fax: 04 499 2954

Email: info@wwf.org.nz

Website: wwf.org.nz

Bank account number for donations: 06 – 0501 – 0545463 – 00

Please include your supporter number as a reference.

Registered Charity no: CC33788

© 1986 Panda Symbol WWF International | ® “WWF” is a Registered Trademark of WWF International.

SUBSCRIBE TO WWF EMAIL ALERTSSigning up to our WWF e-newsletter is a great way to become more involved in the work of WWF, and you’ll be the first to know about breaking conservation news as it happens.

Sign up at wwf.org.nz/newsletter

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BERRIES ARE EATEN FROM TREES AND THE SEEDS DISPERSED THROUGH THE FOREST

NEW ZEALAND

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“WWF is one of the great hopes for the world”David Attenborough, WWF Ambassador

What’s your legacy?The kiwi symbolises the uniqueness of

New Zealand’s natural heritage. By leaving a gift to WWF in your will you can

help protect that heritage.This could be your legacy. Share it with us.

Contact us in confidence at bequest@wwf.org.nz or call toll free 0800 4357-993. We’d love to hear

from you if you need a brochure, have any questions, or have included WWF in your will.

A kiwi is held by a volunteer during a health check.

LIVING PLANETISSN 1177-3332

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