Environmental Monitoring
After the planting work is done, it's important to monitor the bio-diversity improvements, we need to make sure we're achieving what we set out to do, that we're causing no unintended ill effects & we are maximising the benefits to the environment & the community.
Trakka Tunnels
The New Zealand designed Trakka Tunnel system is a presence / absence species identification survey, with the baited ink pads allowing species identifacation from footprints. Both native & predatory species are monitored.
Bird Calls
Calls are identified & birds sighted from specific sites within our projects to identify numbers & diversity. Trends are tracked in relation to maturity & topography of the surrounding flora & types of habitat.
Understory Regeneration
Quadrants of both open & reforested areas are monitored for new species growth to measure which natives are germinating on their own, when maintenance can be scaled back & how geography, topography & planted species effect these results.
Biomass / Carbon Sequestration
One aim of reforestation is carbon offsetting, we monitor a specific species biomass to calculate the carbon absorption of our project sites. Against this we are building data on how geography, topography & seasonality effect these results.
Oxygenation
(Indicator Species)
Our test is a presence / absence survey identifying species & which of those species need an oxygen rich environment to survive.
Chemical Testing
Students test bacterial count, lead, pesticides, nitrates, chlorine, pH & total hardness levels on-site using mobile water quality measuring kits, at different sample sites along a water-course.
Visual Assessments
Students examine riparian areas, environmental & geographic factors that play a role in water quality. Along with turbidity (water clarity), temperature & tests on water volume movement.
Sedimentation
(Indicator Species)
Using a species who's food source & environment are incredibly susceptible to damage from sediment, we can track growth habits along a transect line.
Multi Species
Using a quadrant survey, students identify the bio-diversity of an estuarine environment & the relationships between those species.
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Fill in our Study Abroad Inquiry Form & we can design a custom tour for your group that encompasses all your major themes & learning objectives.
