Operation Ark, a flagship multi-species protection programme led by the Department from 2004 to 2010,  provided valuable lessons for the future of pest control and species management for mainland sites.

The programme was launched in response to devastating rat and stoat plagues in South Island beech forests that caused the rapid decline of species such as mohua and parakeets. The primary purpose of Operation Ark was to ensure the long-term survival and sustainability of key native species on the mainland.