Bluff Hill Motupōhue Environment Trust (BHMET) | Ep 21

What started with a dead tītī and a community saying “we’ve got to do something” has turned into an 18-year conservation project with an army of automatic traps, a native plant nursery and a much bigger vision for Southland. But how do you keep predators down, bring the forest back to life, and get an entire community behind the work? In this episode, I’m joined by David Swann from the Bluff Hill Motupōhue Environment Trust to hear how a grassroots project in Bluff has grown, what they’ve learned along the way, and why technology, good data and strong relationships are changing what community conservation can look like. **Key Takeways** - Why good data and automatic traps could be a game changer for catchment and community groups trying to control predators over larger areas. - How habitat restoration, native plant production and community relationships all work together to create lasting environmental outcomes. - Why working alongside farmers, catchment groups and local communities is essential for connecting conservation efforts across the landscape.   David shares his experience of building practical conservation solutions in Bluff, including the trust’s native plant nursery, its network of more than 120 connected traps, and why protecting the Awarua Waituna Wetland is one of the team’s big ambitions. If you’re wondering what’s possible when a community sticks with a conservation project for the long haul, press play and hear what’s happening on Bluff Hill Motupōhue.  #catchmentgroups #thrivingsouthland #communityconservation #predatorcontrol Connect with Bluff Hill Motupōhue Environment Trust Website: https://www.motupohue.nz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BHMET YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BHMET Email: [info@motupohue.nz](mailto:info@motupohue.nz)     Connect with us at Thriving Southland Website: https://www.thrivingsouthland.co.nz/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThrivingSouthland/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCERVHLoTWa0c4IL4BC4b\_Kw   Email: [office@thrivingsouthland.co.nz](mailto:office@thrivingsouthland.co.nz)