52 EMROP: Waihi North Project WAI-985-000-PLN-LC-0001_Rev0 clean • At night, spotlight searching using headtorches and binoculars will be used to target arboreal geckos occupying the trunks, branches, and foliage of trees. In instances where the foliage of tall trees cannot be effectively searched using this technique (e.g. canopy is too high or foliage too dense), the herpetologist will mark (e.g. dazzle paint) the trunk(s) and these trees(s) will be re-inspected during Phase 2 of the salvage operation (see section 5.3.2.2). 5.3.2.2 Phase 2. Vegetation clearance and machine-assisted searches Phase 2 of the lizard salvage operation acts as a contingency, recognising that not every lizard may be detected and captured during the Phase 1 activities. • Destructive searches will involve searching through potential during vegetation removal, and with the assistance of an excavator fitted with a toothed bucket or rake (Figure 11). • Searches would cover all potential habitat within the site and continue until the supervising ecologist is satisfied that the potential habitats are sufficiently removed or degraded that lizards or katipo spiders are unlikely to be present. • Only taller trees that have been marked for re-inspection during the nocturnal searches, will be felled using a chainsaw under the supervision of the Project herpetologist. Once the tree has been felled, the foliage, bark, and any holes or crevices in the branches/trunks will be inspected for lizards to the satisfaction of the herpetologist. • At no stage should areas identified by the herpetologist as potential lizard habitat be mulched in situ by lowering a mulch-head directly onto standing vegetation. Mulching standing vegetation is highly destructive and eliminates all opportunities for the herpetologist to recover individuals or for the lizards to vacate the vegetation of their own accord before the vegetation is destroyed. • Coordination and communication between the herpetologist and vegetation clearance contractors (both managers and labourers) is crucial to ensure injury to lizards, and the herpetologist, is avoided.
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