A case for multi-species management of sympatric herbivore pest impacts inthe central Southern Alps, New Zealand

Five herbivorous introduced mammals are sympatric in the central Southern A lps. All of these species have the potential to affect conservation values, yet the Department of Conservation at present monitors and mitigates the i mpacts of only one. We outline ecological arguments for multi-species manag ement of sympatric herbivore pest impacts and use the two-species system of sympatric thar and chamois to highlight the need for multi-species managem ent of the central Southern Alps alpine pest community.