Hidden Wealth—the Biodiversity of the Denniston Plateau

A talk by Rod Morris. Rod will present a 50 min powerpoint on the plants and animals (many of them poorly known or scientifically undescribed) that are at risk from the 'Escarpment Mine' proposal put forward by Australian mining company Bathurst Resources.

Rod writes: "Until now my career has been in film-making and wildlife photography, and I have not felt the need to become an activist as well, however after visiting Stockton, NZ's largest open-caste coal mine near Denniston 18 months ago, I became increasingly troubled at what I see happening—ecological destruction proposed on a massive scale, and all in one of NZ's most important areas for biodiversity.

I wrote an article for the August 2010 issue of Forest and Bird magazine about my impressions of Stockton and I have been collaborating with F & B on publicising the hidden biodiversity of the Denniston, and the threat open caste mining poses since then. Your members will also have read an evocative piece more recently on the Denniston by Debs Martin in the latest (Feb 2012) issue of F&B."

At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.