Forest & Bird has released footage showing the declining state of Russell State Forest ahead of a planned 1080 aerial drop.
Video shows collapsing native trees at the hands of rats and possums.
"Most of the native birds have disappeared along with lizards, insects and bats," Forest & Bird said on Facebook. "Many northern rātā are dead and fallen.Possums have eaten pūriri and are killing tōtara - these are most of the dying and dead trees in this video.
"There's been possum trapping in the most easily accessible areas around the edge of the forest, but this hasn’t been enough."
But an injunction is before the Māori Land Court to stop the Northland 1080 drop from going ahead.
Forest and Bird Northland forests advocate Dean Baigent-Mercer says the situation is urgent.
"If we don't turn around this forest now, another summer will come where there's a drought, more trees will tip over because of the impacts both of climate change and of possums eating vegetation."
Riki Ngakoti and Hayward Brown, who applied for the injunction, told RNZ there hasn't been enough research done to prove 1080 is safe.
"We have tried to do a bit of research but some of the risks we haven't been able to satisfy ourselves about are the effect of 1080 on the environment below the ground... the micro-organisms, the works, the bugs - there hasn't been thorough research."
Mr Baigent-Mercer says the poison is the most effective way to fix the problem.
"As they head back to their dens to die, those rats and possums are then attacked by feral cats, stoats, ferrets and weasels. There is no other pest control method that can hit down the worst offenders over large areas."
Last week an attempt to stop a 1080 drop in the Hunua Ranges was thrown out.
"It's great to hear that the court case that was designed to delay the 1080 operation has been kicked out. That sets a really good precedent," said Mr Baigent-Mercer.
Former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Jan Wright says 1080 is the best tool available to control pests. Without it we'd "lose the battle" and with it, many of our native species, she told The AM Show earlier this month.
Newshub.
