Solutions
proven innovative solutions for commercial harvesting or wilding pine extraction on both land and waterPlease click the link below to gain access to the overview.
Wilding Pines
An economic opportunity to utilize unproductive land in the Marlborough Sounds in the 1970’s saw the planting of many areas of Pinus Radiata on remote blocks of land with no existing roading access or fully established method for harvesting in the future. The wilding pines in the sounds are a unfortunate side effect of wind blown seeds. Not only do many hectares of commercially planted pine without existing road access, are due for harvesting but also vast areas of wilding pines exist in some cases as an untapped resource which if harvested could fund erosion management and land remediation needed where problems have been created using existing methods.
Existing Methods – Benefits & Short Falls
CLEAR FELLING
Benefits
- Most cost effective in some locations, mostly inland based, or in Sounds locations, where soil is stable and felled trees are not growing densely.
- Most suitable for immature trees.
- More suitable for sparse or individual trees near the sea and steep terrain than poisoning since when dead trees finally fall they are rigid and take soil and rock with them.
Shortfalls
- Not suitable for all steep erosion prone terrain or larger dense areas of pine growth.
- Felled mature trees with cones left on site will eventually recreate the problem.
- Felled trees too close to the sea may become maritime hazards
POISONING
Benefits
- Most cost effective for sparsely growing and individual pines in the sounds environment away from structures, public tracks, the sea and in other locations where clear felling is unsuitable.
Shortfalls
- Not suitable for steep erosion prone terrain or where they will fall into the sea, causing a maritime hazard.
- Poisoned mature trees drop pinecones that will potentially perpetuate the problem.
- Dying trees pose a falling risk if near walking tracks
- Dying trees are visually unattractive and can take up to ten years to fall?
- When rigid dead trees fall they create soil and rock disturbance and erosion risks.
Evolving Issues
While the poisoning of wilding pines has a role in dealing with wilding pines, it is becoming apparent that there needs to be other options for use where the poisoning of trees can cause more problems.
SEA BASED
LAND BASED
Sustainable Solutions
Common Goal
To use the lowest impact method available to solve the wilding pine problem in NZ but more specifically in this instance, in the Marlborough Sounds and wider Marlborough region.
Past Issues to Avoid
- Short term solutions, with little thought of new long term issues created down the track.
- Causing more problems being singly focused on solving main issue, without taking into account a boarder view.
- Neglecting to weight up the long term economic and environmental costs of each solution.
Sustainable Future for the Industry
The tide has changed and the stakeholders are expressing a collective desire to solve the problem, we see this as a major leap forward and see that through shared values – collaboration and recognition of common goals we can invent a new model that incorporates the best aspects of all available methods to move rapidly forward with some low impact, long term solutions that will be sustainable into the future.
A New Model
Engage all stake holders to bring focus and support to the common goal.
Present a model that recognizes pass, present and future environment and ecology values.
Commitment to changing the model to halt further damage and avoid repeating past mistakes
By caring for the land we care for the ecology, we care for diversity, we care for our communities.
Darryn Newman
A wealth of expertise and knowledge.
- Deep respect – for both people and environment.
- Integrity – to ensure our actions help and not harm.
- Opportunity – to expand and innovate leaving footsteps for generations to follow.
- Sustainability – of partnerships and of methods of operation.
