INTERNATIONAL SANCTUARIES
Dancing Star Ecological Preserve, New Zealand
In New Zealand, Dancing Star Foundation owns and maintains an ecological preserve which the Foundation created on the southern most island of Rakiura, or Stewart Island.
Comprising over 400 acres of hilly coastal land adjoining New Zealand’s most recently designated Rakiura National Park, the DSF Preserve can be divided into four distinct floral zones: Podocarp-broadleaf forest, coastal vegetation with an array of Coprosma, tree ferns and tree fuchsia, a small sphagnum-and-sedge wetland and pasture with sedges, bracken and various grasses. The forest is dominated by kamahi (Weimannia racemosa), rata (Metrosideros umbellate), rimu and miro trees. The coniferous rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) may live in excess of 500 years and grow to forty metres. The Preserve contains at least 126 native species, at least 11 native bird species and 7 known invertebrate species.
Among the many bird species found in the Preserve are Red-crowned Parakeets (Kakariki, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae), Wood Pigeon (Kukupa or Keruru, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), parrots (Kaka, Nestor m.meridionalis), Tomtit (Ngiru-ngiru, Petroica macrocephala), Fantail (Piwakawaka, Rhipidura f. fulginosa), Bellbird (Korimako, Melanura anthornis), Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), Grey Warbler (Riroriro, Gerygone igata), Silvereye (Tauhou, Zosterops lateralis lateralis) and Blue Penguins (Korora, Eudyptula minor).
The DSF Preserve constitutes what conservationists call a “mainland island.” A large portion of the refuge has been specially enclosed within an approximately 2.1 kilometer long state-of-the-art ecologically-engineered fence (designed by the internationally-famed New Zealand-based company, Xcluder) to help inhibit the movement into the sanctuary of non-native mammals which have a serious, negative impact upon indigenous life forms. An extensive grid of protections is in place, including electronic and video surveillance, with instant telephonic and satellite communication to a national network and a response team that can counteract any and all breaches. The Foundation is actively engaged in the ongoing monitoring of numerous fixed plots for re-vegetation, and continuous restoration of the Ecological Preserve. A team of top New Zealand scientists are advisory members for this exciting endeavor.
The refuge is not open to the public but is the sole domain of the wild biodiversity that dwells therein, watched over by dedicated staff members. Along with Ulva Island, this will be the only predator free piece of land on all of Stewart Island/Rakiura, and the first true place of safety for native species in 150 years on the Stewart Island mainland, New Zealand’s third largest island.
Other community and Department of Conservation efforts on the island indicate that, in time, the entirety of Stewart Island may well be free of non-native predators, making it one of the most globally important islands of biodiversity in the world. The biodiversity managers of Southland, and of Stewart Island, have embraced that vision.
And it is a vision that is, at least symbolically, a metaphor and true microcosm for the kind of research and goals embraced by DSF throughout the world.
