Lincoln University is taking steps towards becoming one of the first predator-free campuses in the country and encouraging an abundance of native wildlife species to make Lincoln their home.
Ecology tutor Mike Bowie has been instrumental in developing a comprehensive three-to-five year strategy that aims to enhance and protect native biodiversity on campus.
“At Lincoln, we teach pest management and conservation, environmental management and landscape architecture, so we have the expertise available to make this goal a reality,” said Mr Bowie.
“Nature contributes to wellbeing and leads to a decrease in stress hormones. We need to get people loving nature and not being scared of it. Seeing more of it is important and if we know what we’re looking at, we can understand it better and protect it.”
Mr Bowie said there had been a reduction in birdlife on campus over the years as trees were cleared to make way for buildings.
“It would be wonderful to return the dawn chorus to campus.”
One part of the biodiversity strategy involves a second-year Ecology class creating an inventory of native plant and animal species present on the Lincoln campus.
“This involves putting out monitoring devices, including weta motels and wooden discs,” said Mr Bowie. “We’ve put 30 weta motels and 30 wooden discs at various areas around campus, which is a really good way of non-destructively sampling species.”
The motels are wooden structures with small cavities that weta can crawl into, and the wooden discs offer insects shelter from predators, as they can hide underneath them.
The biodiversity strategy also involves monitoring pest mammals, including mice, rats, hedgehogs and possums, and creating traps to reduce predation.
“This is the first step towards a pest-free Lincoln University,” said Mr Bowie.
“We also plan to plant natives for birds, lizards and insects, using ecological principles. This means planting the kinds of natives that will attract particular species. Native trees are important habitat as they can provide vegetation, nectar and fruit for the wildlife to eat.”
Mr Bowie also mentioned the idea of planting native riparian species along drains, instead of using herbicides.
“Planting waterways with native species can create habitat and provide shade for wildlife.”
Mr Bowie would be keen to see the campus follow the example of the staff at the Lincoln University Demonstration Dairy Farm, who have planted natives along its drain to shade it.
“This reduces algae through lowering water temperatures, making it more suitable for aquatic wildlife, while providing habitat for birds and invertebrates.”
Mr Bowie discussed the strategy as part of a seminar series organised by the Lincoln University Sustainability Action Group for our Environment (SAGE).
SAGE is responsible for ensuring that the university promotes and achieves ecologically, socially and economically sustainable development.
