On 2nd August 2022 we were fortunate to have Emeritus Professor David Norton speak to the Waitaki Valley Community Native Nursery Student Leads and community about biodiversity and provide tips on propagating native plants to enhance the biodiversity within our local area.
Here are some brief notes taken from the enlightening, informal discussion:
What is biodiversity and why is it important?
Biodiversity at its simplest is diversity of life, everything alive on Earth.
All of the species, diversity within the species (genetic differences) and the environment they live within.
Good biodiversity = Lots of species in the environment.
Native vs Exotic biodiversity is a balance.
Endemic species are only found here in NZ meaning we can only conserve here in NZ.
Everything has a role in the ecosystem team, the more members generally the stronger the team.
Waitaki/Hakataramea native biodiversity:
We think that it was forested, grassland was the higher country.
Burnt by the early Polynesian explorers.
Big fires as there’s no indication of fire naturally occurring within NZ, so not burnt before then = lots of fuel.
Wooden landscape became tussock grassland, scrub and remnant forest.
Vegetation today is very different to what it would have been originally.
Trees that were probably here: Halls Totara, Kowhai (South Island), Tree Daisies, no indication of Beech in this area.
Seed sourcing/Eco sourcing:
Choose seed sources appropriate to where you want to plant them.
Local = better adapted to local environment.
Protect local biodiversity.
Roughly – Hakataramea – Omarama – Danseys = local
Winter frosts, summer dry.
Seeds over cuttings.
Diversity of sources: as many trees/plants/sites as possible, mix up and then plant.
Collect 2-3 times over fruiting season as plants are fertile at different times.
Best practice for seeds?
Every species has different needs so do research, e.g. Kowhai prefer water dispersal so seeds get roughed up on stones (scarification) and soaked in water
Jason Butt from Environment Canterbury is expert seed collector – so is worth contacting to support the nursery/catchment activities.
Planting time?
Mid summer is no good here.
There are two schools of thought:
Autumn = moisture over winter
Spring = after frosts.
Ensure plants are hardened off properly.
Spring possibly the best but challenging here in the dry environment.
You can help them by keeping competition at bay e.g. grasses etc.
Mulch to keep moisture in, bark mulch is good, guards help to shelter but get hot.
A lot of natives like shade but are not competitive against grasses.
What to Plant where?
Look at existing plants, e.g. wetlands close to here
Plant what grows, don’t get too hung up on being purely what grew here pre burning.
Following the morning workshop, the Managing Native Biodiversity on Farms field day was hosted at Mt Florence in the Hakataramea Valley. This was a pilot project for Farming with Native Biodiversity which aims to empower and enable farmers to effectively manage biodiversity alongside farming, creating win-win opportunities for farming and biodiversity. Click here for more information about the field day and some great resources.
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