A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN environmental initiative is underway in Kouaoua, New Caledonia, aimed at mitigating the ecological damage caused by invasive deer populations. By integrating traditional customary authority with modern conservation techniques, local leaders and international partners successfully culled over 1000 deer last year, across 3000 hectares by the forest edge, including the La Vallée drinking water catchment area.
The programme focused heavily on professionalising local hunters through specialised training, which covered weapon handling, optics, GPS navigation, radio communication, survival skills, emergency preparedness, and the introduction of thermal imaging and digital data collection.
Original Article: New Caledonia - Guardians of the valley: Restoring ecosystems in Kouaoua
