Predator Free 2050 (New Zealand)
Predator Free 2050 is a nationwide goal to eradicate rats, possums, feral cats and mustelids from all of Aotearoa New Zealand by 2050, with the Department of Conservation as lead agency (DOC).
Image: NASA (iss071e073568, Lakes Tekapo, Pukaki and Ōhau, New Zealand, May 11, 2024).
Last reviewed: 4 sources cited
New Zealand wants to remove its most harmful introduced predators from the whole country.
Introduced rats, possums, feral cats and mustelids kill an estimated 25 million native birds in New Zealand each year (DOC).
Source: DOC, What is Predator Free 2050
Explain Like I'm 10
- New Zealand's birds grew up with no mammals that hunt them.
- Then people brought rats, stoats, possums and cats, which eat birds and their eggs.
- The country is working to remove those predators everywhere by 2050.
The Five W's of Predator Free 2050
Who
The New Zealand Government, with the Department of Conservation (DOC) as lead agency, and iwi, hapū, NGOs, businesses, community groups and scientists.
Source: DOC, What is Predator Free 2050
What
A goal, a movement and a government-funded programme to eradicate the most harmful introduced predators.
Source: DOC, What is Predator Free 2050
When
Announced on July 25, 2016, with a target of 2050.
Source: DOC, Predator Free New Zealand 2050 to be a massive team effort (July 25, 2016)
Why
Introduced predators are one of the key threats to native species, which evolved without mammals (DOC).
Source: DOC, What is Predator Free 2050
Connected Solutions
- Yellowstone Wolves Gray wolves returned to Yellowstone in 1995 after nearly 70 years.
Impact Statement
Government solution · active
DOC reports that kākā now live alongside people in Wellington and kiwi share backyards on Waiheke Island (DOC).
Source: DOC, Predator Free 2050
For Further Information: DOC, Predator Free 2050
The aim is to remove every last animal and stop them from coming back, which is much harder than keeping numbers down (DOC).
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Anyone can help, from backyard traps to community projects across the country (DOC).
Source: DOC, Predator Free 2050
For Nature
The target species were chosen as the most harmful to native wildlife and realistic to eradicate by 2050 (DOC).
Source: DOC, What is Predator Free 2050
Get Involved
Join the Predator Free movement.
Get InvolvedRelated Solutions
More solutions like this one, matched by meaning.
Help This Work
Links go straight to the organization. Saving Planets doesn't receive any of the money.