Boost for Hawke’s Bay native forests

BIODIVERSITY, EROSION CONTROL AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION

in Hawke’s Bay are receiving a boost from Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service’s One Billion Trees (1BT) Programme, with three native tree planting projects launched in the region.

Alex Wilson, Director Forest Development, Grants and Partnerships at Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service, says planting blocks of trees can improve land and water quality, help reduce carbon, and bring economic benefits for local communities.

“Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service has partnered with Te Mata Park Trust Board to plant 12 hectares of new plants and trees on land belonging to the increasingly popular Te Mata Park.

“Mana Whenua are engaged in relation to sites of archaeological significance and a Rōngoa garden has been established and will continue to be developed in conjunction with local iwi,” says Ms Wilson. Around 59,000 native, eco-sourced seedlings will be planted over a three-year period, resulting in an extension of the park’s existing bird corridor linking Cape Kidnappers and Havelock North. The project will also provide seasonal employment to the local community and include the help of many volunteers over its duration.

Mike Devonshire, Trust Chairman, says the Te Mata Park Trust

Board is delighted to receive more than $600,000 in funding from the IBT programme.

“This support will form the backbone of our project, ensuring marked improvements in native biodiversity and birdlife habitats, as well as providing employment for many local contractors. As Te Mata Park is protected under a QEII covenant, the restoration of this land will be enjoyed by thousands of park users, in perpetuity.”

Another Hawke’s Bay project receiving funding from the 1BT Programme is Ocean Beach Sanctuary located on the Cape Kidnappers Peninsula. The sanctuary is receiving $160,000 to help increase its seedling production by expanding its nursery and employing a nursery coordinator to ramp up production.

“The nursery, which has produced thousands of plants over the years, has found the demand for seedlings was outstripping its existing production,” says Ms Wilson. “By expanding the nursery, an additional 110,000 seedlings are expected to be produced over a three-year period.”

Funding has also been committed to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. It’s receiving almost $1 million to boost its existing native species planting programmes, including the programmes of partnering organisations, NZ Landcare Trust and Hastings District Council.