Dairy farmers' work recognised in native birds report

Dairy NZ chief executive Tim Mackle. Photo/File

DairyNZ says it's pleased the environmental work being done by dairy farmers has been recognised in a report on the state of New Zealand's native birds by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Jan Wright.

Wright tabled the report in Parliament this afternoon.

Out of 168 native bird species, four out of five are in decline.

"The situation is desperate," Wright said in her report.

DairyNZ said in a statement it mirrored comments from Wright, that we all "want to see the restoration of abundant, resilient, and diverse birdlife on the New Zealand mainland".

It said declining native bird numbers was a serious situation, and it was pleased the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment recognised that the environmental work dairy farmers were carrying out on their farms was helping birds.

"This on-farm environmental work includes improving water quality in rural areas through fencing waterways and riparian planting, which is leading to the increase in many areas of the natural gateways our native bird species need to thrive."

DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle said: "It's positive to see that the contribution of dairy farmers, alongside the wider agricultural sector, is recognised by the report. Farmers have placed 4000 covenants into the Queen Elizabeth II trust, which sees land fenced off and often planted in native species, creating important habitats for native flora and fauna".

The Sustainable Dairy Water Accord Year 3 report, released on May 15, also reflected 26,197km of dairy farm waterways now fenced off, and generally, farmers planted out the margin between the fencing and the water with native species, such as manuka, flaxes and sedges, which helped to further protect the waterway and surrounding habitat, encouraging native birdlife.

Dr Mackle said: "Controlling pests needs to be a continued focus for all landowners, as the damage to native wildlife by pests such as opossums, stoats, and rats can is significant.

"Dairy farmers, via their milk solids levy, contribute $28.6 million per annum to opossum control via the TB-Free control programme, and this has an enormously positive affect on New Zealand's biodiversity".