What does a healthy ecosystem actually look like in Aotearoa New Zealand?

And what role does the endangered kōkako bird (Callaeas wilsoni) play in the conservation landscape?

In this episode, we are joined by Wayne O’Keefe, who wears many hats in the conservation space, including ongoing efforts to help develop intergenerational forest corridors through KEEP, the Kōkako Ecosystem Expansion Programme.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

• How and why kōkako are such a great indicator of forest health.
• Why protecting kōkako really means looking after all the other species in the forest.
• Why kōkako need at least 2000 hectares of connected forest to have a resilient population.
• How this need evolved into creating ecological corridors that connect existing forest remnants through KEEP.
• What 65 million years of isolation has done to New Zealand’s flora and fauna.
• What a healthy ecosystem looks like in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• What conservation means to Wayne.
• And much more…

👩About Wayne:

Wayne O’Keefe has a passion for supporting community-based conservation initiatives. He serves a range of leading conservation organisations that include KEEP (Kōkako Ecosystem Expansion Programme), Bay Conservation Alliance, Tane’s Tree Trust, Whakatāne Kiwi Trust, and more…

🔗Learn more:

• KEEP: ⁠www.keep.org.nz⁠
• Bay Conservation Alliance: ⁠www.bayconservation.nz⁠
• Whakatane Kiwi Trust: ⁠www.whakatanekiwi.org.nz⁠
• Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust: ⁠www.kiwitrust.org⁠
• Kaharoa Kōkako Trust: ⁠www.kokako.org.nz⁠

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org