Tree planting
From humble beginnings in 1989 a considerable number of trees have been
planted on Matakohe-Limestone Island. Figures are sketchy for the early years, but we know 23,000 were planted
in year 2000 as a special planting to mark the Millennium. Over
100 different species of native trees and plants have been used,
with seeds sourced locally. The target is to plant 152,000 trees
on the 19 hectares of island available to be planted, giving
a density of 8,000 trees per hectare. In year 2000, when the
Restoration Plan for the island was prepared, the aim was to
plant 10,000 trees per year. Numbers planted since then have
been:
2000 23,000
2001 8,500
2002 13,500
2003 20,000
2004 17,000
2005 12,700
2006 9,250
2007 7,020
2008 3,530
It was recognised in 2003 that more pioneering species would be needed to form a canopy
and shade out the thick grass. The existing buffalo (carpet) grass was so dense that
many planted trees were smothered by grass re-growth within two years and naturally
dispersed seeds from existing mature trees was just not able to establish through the
grass. The strategy was changed to aerial pre-plant spraying with a herbicide (Galant)
that would kill the grass but leave trees undamaged, along with planting more manuka
(teatree) to provide quick canopy cover and act as a nursery for other native trees.
When the manuka is close to canopy closure, other native trees will be planted amongst
and under it, giving a much better survival rate and producing a forest with a better
canopy structure.
Canopy closure of the manuka is sufficient in limited areas
(trees several years old), and from 2002, underplanting has been
carried out in one of those areas. The seedlings growing from hand spread
seed in that area has been so successful that the Society is looking for people or groups
to adopt-a-spot and do like-wise in some of the other suitable areas.
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| Many people go to the island from May-August
to plant trees, here are some pictures ... click
for more |
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