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Regular Mahurangi Matters readers will have noticed there is nearly always reporting on conservation projects in the area. Last year’s October 13 issue highlighted how spoilt for choice those with a conservation bent are. Ten articles on either land or marine conservation initiatives covered a range of topics from threatened species to pest control, long-term planning and education.
It can be overwhelming and somewhat confusing as to who is doing what, particularly when images can include the same people, literally wearing different hats. It is a good confusion, unpicking all these groups and where they fit, if you are inclined to do so. Perhaps, like the natural environment, there is a chaotic order of things that sorts itself out.
If I was looking for something to do to assist the environment, I would choose the Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary Society (Tossi), as a good place to start. (Disclaimer, I am a founder, former treasurer and chair, and active volunteer). Why?
Firstly, it is public land. It is, and always will be, accessible to everyone. You get to see what happens.
Secondly, there are no vested interests at play. All Tossi members are volunteers. The only personal benefit you get is satisfaction from a job well done, and a serious chance of making a bunch of really good friends with similar values to yourself.
Next, and possibly most importantly, Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary is an excellent place to learn numerous conservation skills.
The Tossi nursery has churned out up to 20,000 plants a year for 15 years or more. Seeds are collected, propagated and grown onsite, ready for the annual public planting days in winter. For anyone interested in revegetation projects, it is an excellent place to learn how to go about it, all the while working alongside a dedicated team of other plant nuts who happily share their knowledge.
Tāwharanui is both a receiver and giver of animals for translocations. While most of the actual translocation is undertaken by specialist ecologists, there is on-going monitoring of threatened species populations and various other surveys that Tossi members participate in. Monitoring the outcomes of conservation projects is often a requirement of funding and can be really rewarding. For an animal/bird/insect enthusiast, Tossi gives you numerous opportunities to learn skills that you could apply elsewhere.
There is, of course, a significant network of traps at Tāwharanui that need looking after. Look no further if you want to upskill on trapping. The team recently successfully managed stoat numbers down to just one animal – plenty to learn from that.
While weeding is partially contracted out, Tossi volunteers have spent hours searching for woolly nightshade, apple of Sodom, lupins, pampas and other weeds that can overwhelm our native plants. Learning how to deal with specific weed species and building confidence in using appropriate herbicides is necessary for any revegetation project “outside the fence” as it were.
Tāwharanui is a partnership between Auckland Council and Ngāti Manuhiri, so the relationship between those partners and Tossi is ever-evolving and challenging as people change. It is another learning opportunity, which is valuable ‘outside the fence’ and is relevant to all conservation groups in the area.
We need to work together if we are to protect and enhance our environment. Active Tossi membership is a great place to start on your conservation journey and, for many of us, it is also a great place to continue, while also participating in other local conservation projects.
The next big project at Tāwharanui is the restoration of nine hectares of wetland. We need funding, we need enthusiasm and we need your help. You will be able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the implementation of the Tāwharanui wetland restoration project to your own wetland projects. It is not just the birds that fly outside the fence, but the knowledge, too.
