Editing Banks Peninsula (section)

== Conservation ==
Estimates suggest that native forest once covered 98% of the peninsula. However, Māori and European settlers successively denuded the forest cover and less than 2% remains today, although some reforestation has started. European settlers have planted many English trees, notably [[walnut]].{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

=== Hinewai Reserve ===
[[Hinewai Reserve]], a private [[nature reserve]], has been established on the peninsula to allow for native forest to regenerate on land that was once farmed. It was established in 1987 and now spans 1250 hectares of native bush.<ref name="stuff.co.nz">{{Cite web|date=29 October 2020|title=Banks Peninsula to become home to new 500ha conservation park|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/123244420/banks-peninsula-to-become-home-to-new-500ha-conservation-park|access-date=21 December 2020|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref> it has 40&nbsp;km of walking tracks through the native bush.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 September 2019|title=The kaitiaki who's spent over 30 years reforesting a Banks Peninsula reserve|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/garden/115283373/the-kaitiaki-whos-spent-over-30-years-reforesting-a-banks-peninsula-reserve|access-date=21 December 2020|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref>

Other protected areas on the peninsula include Ellangowan Scenic Reserve (3.14&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), designated in 1973, [[Mount Herbert Scenic Reserve]] (2.42&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), designated in 1980, Wairewa Stewardship Area (6.51&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), designated in 1987, and Palm Gully Scenic Reserve (1.11&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), designated in 1989.<ref>UNEP-WCMC (2020). Protected Area Profile for New Zealand from the World Database of Protected Areas, October 2020. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net</ref>

=== Marine Reserves ===
A large Marine Mammal Sanctuary, mainly restricting [[set net fishing|set-net fishing]], surrounds much of the peninsula.  This has the principal aim of the conservation of [[Hector's dolphin]], the smallest of all [[dolphin]] species. Eco-tourism based around the playful dolphins has now become a significant industry in Akaroa.

The Banks Peninsula Marine Mammal Sanctuary was expanded in 2020, with restrictions introduced on seismic surveying and seabed mining. The sanctuary stretches from the [[Jed River]] south to the [[Waitaki River]], and extends 20 nautical miles out to sea, covering an area of about 14,310 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Banks Peninsula Marine Mammal Sanctuary |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/habitats/marine/other-marine-protection/banks-peninsula/ |website=Department of Conservation |access-date=27 September 2024}}</ref>

The relatively small [[Pohatu Marine Reserve|Pōhatu Marine Reserve]] centres on Pōhatu / Flea Bay on the south-east side of the peninsula and the larger [[Akaroa Marine Reserve]] lies at the entrance to the [[Akaroa Harbour]]. A taiäpure (local fishing co-management tool) is in place for 90 percent of Akaroa Harbour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crean |first=Mike |date=20 July 2005 |title=Harbour to get Taiapure, Reserve |url=https://www.option4.co.nz/Marine_Protection/akaacrean705.htm |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=option4 |publisher=[[The Press]] |place=[[Christchurch]], N.Z.}}</ref> The history and outcomes of the this taiāpure overlap with the two reserves.

=== Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust ===
[[Rod Donald]] was a member of parliament who died in 2005 aged 47. The Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust aims to improve public walking and biking access and enhance biodiversity on Banks Peninsula.

They (in 2020) are raising money to purchase 500ha of land including the summits of Mt Herbert/Te Ahu Pātiki and Mt Bradley with the intention to set up a conservation park protecting and restoring native biodiversity.<ref name="stuff.co.nz" />  The land is currently farmland but over time the trust intends to return it to native bush. In May 2021, the money was raised to purchase the land.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|date=26 May 2021|title=We bought a hill! Fundraising target smashed – but there is still time to help|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/buy-the-hill/125249203/we-bought-a-hill-fundraising-target-smashed--but-there-is-still-time-to-help|access-date=6 June 2021|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref> The  Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust plans to upgrade fencing and remove feral grazing animals.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

The Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust are also involved in developing Te Ara Pātaka, also known as the Summit Walkway. They have also been involved in providing tramping huts (Rod Donald Hut and Ōtamahua Hut on [[Ōtamahua / Quail Island]]) for the public to access.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Projects Landing Page « Rod Donald Trust|url=https://roddonaldtrust.co.nz/projects-landing-page/|access-date=21 December 2020|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust ===
Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust was formed in 2001. It works to conserve and enhance the biodiversity and encourage [[sustainable land management]] on Banks Peninsula. Work being undertaken in 2020 included work to protect [[Morepork|ruru]] (morepork) and [[tūī]]. They also work with landowners to legally protect important biodiversity and landscape values in perpetuity through covenants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Covenants|url=https://www.bpct.org.nz/our-projects?id=28|access-date=21 December 2020|website=www.bpct.org.nz}}</ref>