Long-serving Horizons Regional Council staffer, Eric Dodd (pictured), has been recognised for his contribution to pest management with the Peter Nelson Award.
Council environmental manager, Craig Davey said he was pleased that Mr Dodd’s contribution to pest management has been formally recognised by the New Zealand Biosecurity Institute.
“Eric is the first person from the Horizons Region to receive this award and we couldn’t think of a better candidate,” says Mr Davey.
“Eric worked for Horizons over a span of almost 40 years and through his experience at Horizons and his roles prior to joining Horizons, he really became a leading subject matter expert in vertebrate pest management.
“Eric was an asset to the team, sharing his knowledge and helping control a variety of pest animals within the Horizons Region.”
His work at Horizons included possum control, leading the Kia Whārite biodiversity project which protected kiwi and whio, as well as overseeing pest plant and soil conservation in the Ruapehu District for a period of time as well.
“He spent a considerable amount of energy targeting possum control which was a vital component in the fight to eradicate the incidence of bovine tuberculosis (TB) from cattle and deer herds in the Ruapehu District.”
“Eric invested so much in the Horizons Region, and we congratulate him on this achievement, while he may have retired his work leaves a lasting legacy,” said Mr Davey.
Mr Dodd is now retired.
