Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

More pest control measures seen as needed

Updated at 5:32 pm on 14 January 2011

The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand says a report that says there has been a rapid decline in native birds is evidence that more extensive pest control measures are needed.

The findings are in a research paper by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, which is expected to be issued in April.

Commissioner Jan Wright has been investigating the use of the pest control 1080 and its alternatives.

She says native wildlife is declining at an average rate of 6% per year in areas that are not protected.

Forest and Bird fears that much of New Zealand's native heritage will eventually be lost for good if more extensive 1080 programmes are not introduced.

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