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The Friends of Mana Island (FOMI) was established in 1998 as a non-profit Society
with the principal objective of supporting and assisting the Department of
Conservation (DoC) in implementing the restoration plan for The primary focus to date has been the planting of trees, a 20 year program started in 1987 aimed at restoring the vegetation on the island to an approximation of the status which existed prior to 1800. This program has seen some 350,000 trees and shrubs planted to date, all of which are indigenous to the Wellington Conservancy. The planting program is due for completion in 2002. One of the objectives of restoring the habitat is to provide a sustainable environment of a number of endangered species, primarily from within the Conservancy. The one significant exception is the transfer of Takahe which are endangered in Southland, and are thriving on the island, a total of 23 birds (approximately 10% of the total known population). The reforestation has been confined to the valley systems and slopes, leaving sufficient grassland area to support the Takahe. Because the island is rodent and predator free it provides an ideal
environment for the Cook Strait Giant Weta, and a number of endangered
lizards and birds. The bird releases to date include the North Island Robin,
Diving Petrel, Brown Teal and last year the Fairy Prion. The next planned
transfer is 40 Yellow-Crowned Parakeet from The Friends of Mana Island invite you to participate in the potentially high profile project by way of donation of materials or sponsorship. |
© Copyright Friends of Mana Island Inc 2005. All rights reserved