'We’re revolutionising the future of on- farm biodiversity’ - Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust’s new approach to working with landowners.  

Biodiversity on Banks Peninsula will soon be boosted from above, thanks to Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust’s (BPCT) purchase of a biodiversity-dedicated drone. 

The new drone will be used primarily to support BPCT’s Farm Biodiversity programme – enabling the team to map biodiversity, look into remote ecosystems and safely access difficult or isolated areas.  

“Having a drone means we can get right in amongst it and capture a point-in-time record of native ecosystems high in the forest canopy, down very narrow, steep gullies, to the edge of coastal cliffs, and into critical and important biodiversity areas”, said Farm Biodiversity Advisor, Josh Foster.  

Using orthophotography, the drone will map entire farm ecosystems, taking hundreds of very detailed, high-resolution images - a task that previously would have required a specialised aircraft and crew at a huge cost. 

Once the mapping process is completed, landowners will better understand their local ecosystems, and work with the BPCT team to develop a targeted action plan to help improve their on-farm indigenous biodiversity. 

“Our farm biodiversity programme integrates with the existing farming system and provides farmers with useful evidence of the impact their land management is having on biodiversity outcomes,” said Foster. “One of the key advantages of this drone technology is that we can see the impact of our work. We know to a very high degree what’s working and what’s not, which then means we can adapt our actions and approach to ensure we’re meeting our ecological goals and benefiting the wider farming operation.” 

As well as using the drone to stocktake biodiversity and monitor habitat, it will also be used to understand what other control measures might be needed on-farm. 

“Because it offers a bird’s eye view, the drone can spot weeds in forest canopies and other inaccessible environments, and it can also determine damage from unwanted pests. That will mean we can then undertake targeted weed and pest control.”

As well as harnessing the potential for drones to improve on-farm biodiversity, drone technology also has the potential to make a valuable contribution to BPCT’s other strategic programmes, including its conservation covenants and pest control and eradication programmes. 

“It’s a potential gamechanger for biodiversity,” says Foster.