We are calling on you to prevent the destruction of a breeding colony of around 300 critically endangered Black-billed Gulls, who have settled over the past two years in the flooded foundations of a demolished building in the Christchurch Central Business District.
We ask that you take steps to protect the colony as an endangered species habitat under law, and/or by co-management with the land owners.
We ask that you protect the colony until such time as the population is no longer endangered, or the site has been abandoned for more than two years.
Why is this important?
For many years, the most critically endangered gull on the planet, the Black-billed Gull, has struggled to find a suitable site for breeding, due to flooding and predation.
However, over the past two years a breeding colony of around 300 birds has established in the Christchurch Central Business District in the flooded foundations of a demolished building in Armagh Street.
While the gulls themselves are protected by legislation, the site is not, and as soon as their nesting site is abandoned for the season the landowner can modify the site, preventing it's future use as a nesting site.
For too long, we have been putting human interests before that of the planet and our collective survival, resulting in a polluted planet where no organisms can escape the impact of human activities.
We believe that the preservation of endangered life on earth is more important, and that building development should not further endanger an already endangered species.
More information on the Black-billed gull is available here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/99498678/the-worlds-rarest-gull-calls-new-zealand-home-but-most-kiwis-dont-know-it
How it will be delivered
The petition will be emailed to the individuals and organisations named above.
