Jim Lynch

James Robert Lynch (born 11 September 1947) He now lives in Waikanae.

Cartooning His first cartoons were published in the Taranaki Daily News in 1980 (appearing weekly until 1986) and he produced fortnightly cartoons for the New Zealand Times from 1981 to 1985. He was the runner-up in the New Zealand Cartoonist of the Year category at the Qantas Press Awards in 1982. Lynch's cartoons appeared under the name 'James' because "I didn't want to go to my boss and ask if I could have secondary employment as a political cartoonist". In 2012 his work was archived in the Alexander Turnbull Library.

Natural Wellington Lynch was the president of the Wellington Branch of Forest and Bird from 1991 to 1993. introduced the idea of urban conservation, identified 36 important conservation sites in the city, advocated for their preservation and protection and for the adoption of city-wide restoration planting and pest control. The theme of the plan was to "bring the birds back to Wellington City". The plan was endorsed by the Wellington City Council (WCC) who instigated a land purchase and allocation programme and pest control in key sites.

Natural Wellington led to the establishment of Zealandia and was the precursor to the transformation of Wellington into a 'biophilic city'. The key goals in Natural Wellington, including to bring back the birds, have now been achieved (as confirmed by the WCC monitoring programme).

Zealandia

During the Natural Wellington survey, Lynch identified the former Karori water supply reservoir as a key site due to its location, potential and size. In 1992, building on the concept of the "mainland island", Lynch proposed to the WCC and Greater Wellington Regional Council, that the site be fenced to exclude all exotic mammalian pests and become a secure sanctuary for threatened native wildlife, to be managed in perpetuity by a community trust.

A new design of pest-exclusion fence was developed for the site and tested for its effectiveness against a range of target animals. The 8.6 km pest exclusion fence was built in 1999, and within six months twelve pest mammal species were removed from the 225 ha enclosed area in a groundbreaking exercise. The sanctuary was rebranded as Zealandia in 2008. Seventeen missing fauna species have been re-established in the managed area; including seven which had formerly existed only on offshore islands (little spotted kiwi, North Island saddleback, hihi, red-crowned parakeet, tuatara, Hamilton's frog, and Cook Strait giant wētā). In 2018, after a twenty-year independent monitoring programme, the Ornithological Society of New Zealand reported that the birdlife in the sanctuary had increased beyond expectations and that the diversity and abundance of birdlife was tracking towards matching that of Kapiti Island. It has also been successful in attracting members, volunteers and visitors and now puts up to $30 million per annum into the Wellington economy.

Zealandia has been credited with being the key element in the transformation of Wellington's biodiversity and its status as a biophilic city.

Lynch chaired the Karori Sanctuary steering committee, managed the feasibility study for the project and was appointed Deputy Chairman of the trust when it was formed in 1995; a post he held for twelve years when he retired and became the Founder Vice-Patron of the trust. He authored its key founding documents including the trust deed, the Strategic Business Plan and the Restoration Plan.

In 2019 he authored a book about the enterprise; Zealandia the valley that changed a nation.

Wainuiomata/Puketahā Sanctuary proposal

In 2020 Lynch proposed that the headwaters of the Wainuiomata River catchment constituting 3,313 ha of the Wainuiomata Water Collection Area be pest exclusion fenced and managed as a secure eco-sanctuary for threatened species and to act as nursery to repopulate the surrounding Remutaka Range with indigenous fauna. The flagship species for reintroduction were proposed as kākāpō, hihi and kiwi. The proposal has received support from the Department of Conservation, Wellington Regional Council and Taranaki Whānui as mana whenua. In 2022, Lynch was commissioned by Wellington Regional Council and the Department of Conservation to manage a feasibility study for the proposal. The study found that the project was "technically and practically feasible". The name given to the proposed sanctuary is Puketahā.

National impact

Lynch's major contribution to conservation has been the pest-exclusion fence. Pest exclusion fencing was not new in New Zealand at the time but was limited to single species and small scale. Lynch (see the1992 Karori Sanctuary proposal) conceived a fence designed to exclude all mammals (multi species) and to operate at a large scale (the Karori design is now employed at up to 3,000-ha). The Karori fence was built in August 1999 and was the first of its type. Landcare now identify over 30 projects using pest exclusion fencing based on the Karori model. This fence design allowed the return to the mainland of at least nine species which were formerly restricted to offshore islands (kākāpō, little spotted kiwi, North and South Island saddleback, hihi, tuatara, Hamiltons frog, giant wētā). It was also the key technology which enabled the community eco-sanctuary.

Lynch's design of the Zealandia eco-sanctuary concept and its business model was widely copied across New Zealand in subsequent years. Zealandia inspired a national community sanctuary movement which now encompasses over 30 fenced sanctuaries and protects approximately 44,000 ha of high value mostly lowland ecosystems. The largest of the fenced sanctuaries is Maungatautari near Cambridge (3,200 ha) where the fence was built in 2006. Other projects took inspiration from these sanctuaries in a cascading effect. The community conservation sector has been arguably the largest growth segment in New Zealand conservation over the last 20 years.

In 2012, Sir Paul Callaghan inspired by the Zealandia model, launched the idea of "Predator Free NZ" in a speech at Victoria University sponsored by Zealandia.

Honours and awards

In 1982. Runner up. Cartoonist section. Qantas Press Awards.

In 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, Lynch was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service.

In 2022. Medallist Kiwibank Local Hero of the year awards.

Publications