5856_LH - Living Here - MARCH 2017_WEB

Recommendations

Info

Caring for our landscape W hen you think of pest control, ‘Christmas trees’ may not be high on the list of pests you think of. Self-sown pine and other conifer trees cause significant issues for New Zealand’s natural biodiversity. Their ‘weedy’ tendencies give rise to wilding spread so you’ll often see them referred to as wilding pines. They are very hardy trees that produce lots of light, wind-dispersed seeds from an early age. They can invade and take over native habitats and species, and may threaten the whole of the South A contractor undertaking on-the-ground wilding pine control. Island eastern hill and high country. This year Environment Canterbury is undertaking a $4 million wilding control operation over 900,000 hectares, co-funded and implemented with the Crown, Department of Conservation, Land Information New Zealand, and land occupiers. Wilding conifers are continuing to increase in area at an average rate of about 5-6% per year – with about 2.6 million hectares in New Zealand already affected to some extent. The National Wilding Conifer Management Strategy 2015-2023, released by the Ministry for Primary Industries, addresses control of the pest across the country: www.wildingconifers.org.nz. Another introduced pest is gorse, well known for its vast spreads of yellow flowers across the landscape. Environment Canterbury supports land owners to prevent infestation of land that is presently free of gorse. Walking in the Hurunui T here are some incredible walks across the Hurunui district, from coastal walks near Amberley, forest walks in Hanmer Springs, the Weka Pass Walkway, or if you need more of a challenge, Mount Grey near Amberley, Mount Isobel near Hanmer Springs and the St James Conservation Area. www.visithurunui.co.nz. To find out about the native birds and plants you could see on your walk, such as the great-spotted kiwi/roroa, yellowhead/mohua, kākā, kea, or the endangered orange-fronted parakeet/kākāriki-whero and blue duck/ whio (threatened) – visit www.ecan.govt.nz (nature in your area/Hurunui- Waiau-zone). There’s so much to explore in the Hurunui District. 25% Around 25% of Canterbury is affected by wilding conifers.
Uniquely braided In Canterbury, the seven alpine rivers that contribute 88% of the flow within the region – Clarence/Waiau Toa, Waiau, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Rakaia, Rangitata, and Waitaki – are all braided. Other foothill rivers are also braided or have braided reaches. Braided rivers are iconic natural features, found in only a few places around the world, such as Alaska, Canada, the Himalayan region, and New Zealand. ‘Braiding’ refers to the multiple water channels that flow around gravel islands. These unique features of the Canterbury landscape started life during the last major ice age 25,000 to 10,000 years ago, when huge glaciers pushed millions of tonnes of rock off the spine of the Southern Alps. As the ice began to retreat, streams and rivers carried this alluvial outwash down the valleys of the east coast and deposited it to form flat basins between the mountains and the coastal plains. Braided rivers are characterised by their multiple, shifting channels, varying flows and shingle substrate. The rivers are an abundant supply of food and support many species that can’t be found anywhere else, including 26 species of native bird, with the majority classified as threatened and facing increased pressures as the natural character of their home changes. It is recognised that the habitats provided by braided river systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable as we place pressures on them for water use, such as irrigation and hydro schemes and recreation. They also face pressures from increased pests, weeds and pollution. Working together In February, the Environment Canterbury Council resolved to make Plan Change 4 of the Land & Water Regional Plan (the ‘Omnibus’ plan change) operative. Among other things, this plan change strengthens the rules regarding removal of vegetation from braided river beds and defines those beds to make it easier to understand how to comply with stock exclusion rules. Many agencies have come together to ensure an aligned approach to protecting the braided rivers. Environment Canterbury, local councils, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Federated Farmers, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Land Information New Zealand, Department of Conservation, Braided River Aid (Braid), Forest & Bird and many other local groups are already driving work on the ground that can be built on for the future. Specific management plans are also being considered for individual rivers, like the Hurunui. The Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) aims to halt the decline through its targets and goals with its focus on the integration of water and land management including the protection of indigenous biodiversity and water quality. This is also integrated with kaitiakitanga or guardianship by Ngāi Tahu which applies to the ecological health of all waterways. A number of projects are underway to protect and enhance braided-river ecosystems and species. Such projects include, weed control (e.g. preventing weeds, surveillance, removal); sustained predator control; rules for habitat protection (e.g. legal protection of waterways, firewood cutting rules); adequate environmental flows to sustain fauna; protected areas networks (e.g. to protect a representative range of rivers); community conservation initiatives; recreation management (e.g. restricted access for four wheel drives); communication and education for river users (e.g. improved signage); subregional (zone) action plans; inventories of current state; fencing of stock to keep them out of waterways. Many of these activities are methods for achieving the CWMS targets. The unique protection issues of our braided rivers is explained at www.ecan.govt.nz/cwms-braided-rivers.
Page 1: ENVIRONMENT LIVING HERE MARCH 2017
Page 5 and 6: PM10 stands for Particulate Matter
Page 7: Connect with us 2017/18 Annual Plan

5856_LH - Living Here - MARCH 2017_WEB

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?